Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader formally accepted the diplomatic credentials of nine new ambassadors in a ceremony at the National Palace on Wednesday.
The diplomats represent nations across Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East that maintain bilateral relations with the Caribbean country. Vice President Raquel Pena and Foreign Minister Victor Bisono accompanied Abinader in the Ambassadors Hall in the capital city of Santo Domingo.
The event marked the first credential receiving ceremony for Bisono since his appointment as chancellor. The presentation of credentials is a formal protocol in which a foreign ambassador presents their letters of credence to the receiving head of state, officially granting them diplomatic accreditation.
Following the formal presentation, each envoy and their delegation spent several minutes discussing matters of mutual interest with Abinader. The president conversed with the representatives in Spanish or English. Bisono used an interpreter to communicate with the foreign delegates when necessary.
Representatives from Asia
Bae Jin Lima presented his credentials as the new ambassador for South Korea. The East Asian nation's representative joined its foreign ministry in 2002 after passing the High Diplomatic Service Exam. He previously served as director of the Central America and Caribbean Division, and has held diplomatic posts in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Jamaica and Israel.
Simon Djatwoko Irwantoro Soekarno is the new ambassador from Indonesia, a Southeast Asian country comprised of thousands of volcanic islands. His extensive career in the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes roles as director of Consular Affairs, director of Protocol Affairs and head of the Foreign Delegations Directorate. He served as consul general in Los Angeles and worked at embassies in Singapore, Spain and Chile.
Pakistan, located in South Asia, is represented by Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. The diplomat has over three decades of experience in his country's foreign service. He is currently the deputy secretary for the Middle East, SIFC and Economic Diplomacy. Sheikh was previously deputy chief of mission in Washington D.C., and served as a permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Islamic Development Bank. He also held roles in Turkey, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
Envoys from the Americas
Brendan Michael Sutton is the new ambassador for Canada. He joined the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2004. Sutton has worked as the official department spokesperson, director of the Consular Operations Division, and deputy director for both the Media Relations and the Caribbean and Central America divisions. His foreign service includes postings in Russia and Japan.
Ernesto Pumpo presented his credentials for Honduras. The Central American envoy has a background in the commercial and business sectors. He became the director of events for the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortes in 2016. Pumpo is the general manager of an advertising company and the director of the Saturday Bazaar Foundation, an initiative that supports Honduran entrepreneurs.
German Antonio Becker Alvear is the new ambassador from Chile. He served as the South American country's ambassador to Panama from 2018 to 2022, where he promoted the creation of the ProChile Commercial Directorate and coordinated affairs for Central America and the Caribbean. His political career includes serving as a constitutional counselor in Chile, vice president of the Latin American Parliament, and in management roles for the municipalities of Zapallar and Santiago.
European and Middle Eastern diplomats
Andrej Medica represents the Central European nation of Slovenia. His extensive foreign service career includes his current role as chief of staff for the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, where he previously served as deputy secretary general. Medica has been the head of the North America, Latin America and Caribbean Department, charge d'affaires in Washington D.C., and deputy permanent representative to NATO at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Oren Bar-El is the new ambassador from Israel. He has extensive experience in international relations with Europe, Latin America and multilateral organizations. Bar-El is the special envoy for energy in the Israeli foreign ministry's Economic Division, and previously directed its Central America, Mexico and Caribbean department. He served as ambassador to Costa Rica, with concurrent accreditation in Nicaragua, and in El Salvador and Belize. He also held diplomatic roles in Spain, France and the European Union.
Walid Khalid Abdullah Obeidat presented his credentials for Jordan. A career diplomat since 1991, he is the Middle Eastern country's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. Obeidat previously served as ambassador to Israel, permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, and director of European Affairs. He has managed legal, human rights and international organization areas, with diplomatic assignments in France, Egypt, Switzerland and the United States.
