Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel received on Sunday the copies of the credentials of the new US Ambassador to Slovenia Yousif B. Ghafari. The development comes nine months after the term in office of the former US Ambassador Thomas B. Robertson ended last August.
According to a press release by the Slovenian Foreign Ministry, Ghafari and Rupel mainly discussed bilateral relations and the preparations for the approaching EU-US summit.
Rupel said bilateral relations were good and the ongoing Slovenian EU presidency served to additionally bolster them. He added that he hoped cooperation would also remain as intensive as it is now following the end of Slovenia's six-month stint.
Rupel furthermore outlined the course of the presidency to Ghafari and Slovenia's preparations for the summit. The pair also discussed Western Balkans, Slovenia's activities in the region and the Middle East Peace process, the press release also reads.
Yousif Ghafari was confirmed by the US Senate in late April and was sworn-in at the State Department on 15 May. He will take over from charge d'affaires Maryruth Coleman.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics in 1974, a Master of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Computer Applications in 1975, and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1977 - all from Wayne State University.
In 1992, Ghafari received his Master of Business Administration from the Michigan State University Advanced Management Program (AMP).
He is the chairman of GHAFARI Companies, an architecture, engineering and consulting firm based in Dearborn, and served in 2004 and 2005 as Public Delegate Designate at the US Mission to the United Nations for the 59th United Nations General Assembly.
Ghafari's arrival to Slovenia comes just weeks before the EU-US summit, which will take place on 9 and 10 June and is to be attended by US President George W. Bush.
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