Jonas Hafström
Encyclopedia
Sven Jonas Gerhardsson Hafström (born 27 February 1948) is a Swedish
diplomat
, currently serving as the Swedish ambassador to Washington, D.C., United States
.
. He earned a LL.B.
from Lund University
in 1974. In 1975 he was also elected chairman of the Student Body at Lund University. From 1976 to 1979 he served as a District Clerk at the District Court in Nyköping
, Sweden. In 1979 he was employed at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
in Stockholm and from 1979 to 1981 he served as press secretary to then Minister for Justice
Håkan Winberg. From 1982 to 1984 he was First Secretary
at the Swedish embassy in Teheran, Iran
, and from 1984 to 1987 he was First Secretary at the Swedish embassy in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. From 1987 to 1991, Hafström served as press secretary and foreign policy advisor to then chairman of the Moderate Party
, Carl Bildt
. During Bildt's tenure as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994, Hafström served as an assistant Under-Secretary and foreign policy advisor to Bildt.
From 1994 to 2000, Hafström was head of the International Bureau of the Moderate Party and foreign policy advisor to Carl Bildt. From 1998 to 1999 he was also a member of the Swedish Defense Committee. From 2000 to 2004 he was Deputy Director-General and head of the Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. From 2004 to 2007 he served as the Swedish ambassador in Bangkok
, Thailand
(as such he was also the Swedish ambassador to Burma, Cambodia
, Laos
and the Philippines
). As such he was noted for his efforts during the tsunami disaster
on 26 December 2004, which affected many Swedish tourists in Thailand. On 29 January 2008 he was awarded H. M. The King's Medal
(8th size) from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
for his "meritorious efforts during the tsunami disaster in South East Asia". Since the autumn of 2007, Hafström has served as the Swedish ambassador in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
Since 1987, Hafström is a non-commissioned reserve captain in the Swedish Army
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, currently serving as the Swedish ambassador to Washington, D.C., United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Jonas Hafström was born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. He earned a LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
in 1974. In 1975 he was also elected chairman of the Student Body at Lund University. From 1976 to 1979 he served as a District Clerk at the District Court in Nyköping
Nyköping
Nyköping is a locality and the seat of Nyköping Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 32,427 inhabitants in 2005. The city is also the capital of Södermanland County.- History :...
, Sweden. In 1979 he was employed at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for Swedish foreign policy.Current ministers:*Carl Bildt Head of Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs.*Ewa Björling as Minister for Foreign Trade...
in Stockholm and from 1979 to 1981 he served as press secretary to then Minister for Justice
Minister for Justice (Sweden)
The Minister for Justice is the justice minister of Sweden and head of the Ministry of Justice. The current Minister for Justice is Beatrice Ask of the Moderate Party....
Håkan Winberg. From 1982 to 1984 he was First Secretary
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
at the Swedish embassy in Teheran, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and from 1984 to 1987 he was First Secretary at the Swedish embassy in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. From 1987 to 1991, Hafström served as press secretary and foreign policy advisor to then chairman of the Moderate Party
Moderate Party
The Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
, Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt
, Honorary KCMG is a Swedish politician, diplomat and nobleman. Formerly Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and leader of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, Bildt has served as Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs since 6 October 2006...
. During Bildt's tenure as Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994, Hafström served as an assistant Under-Secretary and foreign policy advisor to Bildt.
From 1994 to 2000, Hafström was head of the International Bureau of the Moderate Party and foreign policy advisor to Carl Bildt. From 1998 to 1999 he was also a member of the Swedish Defense Committee. From 2000 to 2004 he was Deputy Director-General and head of the Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. From 2004 to 2007 he served as the Swedish ambassador in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(as such he was also the Swedish ambassador to Burma, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
). As such he was noted for his efforts during the tsunami disaster
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
on 26 December 2004, which affected many Swedish tourists in Thailand. On 29 January 2008 he was awarded H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal , earlier known as the Court Medal , is an honour that may be bestowed on Swedish citizens.-Honour:...
(8th size) from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf is the reigning King of Sweden since 15 September 1973, succeeding his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf because his father had predeceased him...
for his "meritorious efforts during the tsunami disaster in South East Asia". Since the autumn of 2007, Hafström has served as the Swedish ambassador in Washington, D.C. in the United States.
Since 1987, Hafström is a non-commissioned reserve captain in the Swedish Army
Swedish Army
The Swedish Army is one of the oldest standing armies in the world and a branch of the Swedish Armed Forces; it is in charge of land operations. General Sverker Göranson is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Army.- Organization :...
.