NEWS RELEASES

November 17, 2005 (10:40 a.m. EST)
No. 221

DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew today announced the following diplomatic appointment:

David Preston becomes Ambassador to the Republic of Poland.

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A biographical note on the appointee is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

James Christoff
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

David Preston (M.A. [Economic Development], University of British Columbia, 1970) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1972 and has served abroad in Jakarta, Accra, Canberra and as High Commissioner to Bangladesh. In Ottawa, he has been a desk officer for the Anglophone Africa and Southeast Asia divisions, Deputy Director for the Japan Relations and Personnel Assignments divisions and Director for the U.S. Transboundary Relations Division and the Economic Relations with Developing Countries Division. He has most recently completed an assignment as Director General, Central, East and South Europe Bureau. Mr. Preston is married to Catherine Preston and they have two adult children, Virginia and Nicholas. David Preston succeeds Ralph Lysyshyn.