Vygaudas Ušackas
Encyclopedia
Vygaudas Ušackas is a Lithuania
n diplomat, currently appointed as the European Union
's special representative and the head of EU mission for Afghanistan
. Prior heading Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ušackas was the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States
and Mexico
from 2001 through 2006, then Ambassador to the United Kingdom
.
. In 1982 he finished Skuodas school and enrolled to the Vilnius University
, there he received law degree in 1990. Later he continued his studies at the University of Oslo
, Norway
and the Aarhus University, Denmark
, specializing in international politics and trade. Between 1992 and 1996 he worked as an adviser to Lithuania's mission to NATO and European Community, soon afterwords he assumed post Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between 2000 and 2001 he was the chief negotiator of Lithuania's accession to the European Union
.
After the 2008 election, Andrius Kubilius
presented Vygaudas Ušackas as candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs to President Valdas Adamkus
.
On March 22, 2010, he was appointed by Catherine Ashton as the European Union
's special envoy for Afghanistan
.
Usackas has been criticized as a poor choice for the important position because of his recent dismissal from his position as Lithuania's head diplomat. He was forced to leave that post after a public falling out with the president over a scandal in which the foreign minister allegedly covered up the existence of illegal CIA prisons in the country.
He has two children: Raimundas, who was born in 1991, as well as Paula, born in 1993.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n diplomat, currently appointed as the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's special representative and the head of EU mission for Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Prior heading Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ušackas was the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
from 2001 through 2006, then Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Biography
Vygaudas Ušackas was born in 1964 in SkuodasSkuodas
Skuodas is a city located in Klaipeda County, in northwestern Lithuania, on the border with Latvia. The Bartuva river flows through the town....
. In 1982 he finished Skuodas school and enrolled to the Vilnius University
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....
, there he received law degree in 1990. Later he continued his studies at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and the Aarhus University, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, specializing in international politics and trade. Between 1992 and 1996 he worked as an adviser to Lithuania's mission to NATO and European Community, soon afterwords he assumed post Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between 2000 and 2001 he was the chief negotiator of Lithuania's accession to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
After the 2008 election, Andrius Kubilius
Andrius Kubilius
Andrius Kubilius is a Lithuanian politician who has been Prime Minister of Lithuania since 2008. He previously served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000. He is the leader of the conservative political party Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.- Biography :Kubilius was born at Vilnius...
presented Vygaudas Ušackas as candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs to President Valdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next...
.
On March 22, 2010, he was appointed by Catherine Ashton as the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's special envoy for Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Usackas has been criticized as a poor choice for the important position because of his recent dismissal from his position as Lithuania's head diplomat. He was forced to leave that post after a public falling out with the president over a scandal in which the foreign minister allegedly covered up the existence of illegal CIA prisons in the country.
He has two children: Raimundas, who was born in 1991, as well as Paula, born in 1993.