Biographical Note
His Excellency Ambassador Bagher Asadi
Chairman of the Group of 77 for the year 2001
(Islamic Republic of Iran)

H.E. Ambassador Bagher Asadi obtained his B.A. from the University of Tehran, Iran, and later M.A. from the University of Colorado, U.S., in Economics, with concentration on economic development.

He joined the Foreign Ministry in 1982 and was assigned to the Department of International Affairs. He served as Charge d'Affaires at the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, Geneva, during 1988-1990, and also served as Advisor to the Foreign Minister between 1992 and 1996.

As a member of the national delegation, he actively participated in various international gatherings and fora, including UN, NAM and G-77 meetings since early 1980s.

Ambassador Asadi is now holding the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 in New York for the year 2001. Prior to that, since his assignment to the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, New York, in December 1996, he has been in charge of economic and social affairs.

While in New York, Ambassador Asadi has also served in different capacities in various United Nations Committees and Working Groups, including:

o Chairman of the 38th Session of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (June 1998-May 1999);

o Chairman of the Second Committee of the 53rd Session of the General Assembly (September 1998 - September 1999);

o Coordinator of the Open-ended information consultations of the General Assembly on the report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements (April-July 1999);

o Coordinator of informal consultations on the question of participation and accreditation of NGOs for the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world" (August - September 1999);

o Chairman, 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Nairobi, Kenya, 10-20 April 2000;

o Chairman of working group on "Political declaration" of the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly (World Summit for Social Development and beyond: Achieving social development for all in a globalizing world" (April - June 2000);

o Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur of the Preparatory Committee for the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world" (May 1998-June 2000);

o Chairman of Informal Consultations of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on options for placing the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) within the United Nations system intergovernmental machinery (June-October 2000);

o Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) for the period 1997-2000.

Born in 1951, Ambassador Asadi is married and has two children.