In the spotlight: Adam Rotfeld
A more experienced candidate could hardly have been found.
Rotfeld has been involved in foreign policy in one way or another since the very beginning of his carrier. As soon as he finished his studies, he applied for a position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Though he was ultimately rejected, he was one of only three applicants to pass the Ministry's exam.
In 1961, he joined the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs, and remained there in various positions until 1989. While working there, Rotfeld also attained a doctorate in law from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
Due to his Jewish background (only two of his relatives survived the Holocaust), Rotfeld was frequently discriminated against. Even as an experienced specialist in foreign affairs, Rotfeld wasn't able to acquire a passport until 1973.
In 1989 he turned down an offer to be Polish ambassador to "one of the Scandanavian countries" to join the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, where he served as director from 1991-2002. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Rotfeld was deeply involved in Polish delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. In 2000, he was appointed by President Kwaśniewski to the National Security Council.
In 2001 he became the Undersecretary of State, and in 2003 was promoted to Secretary of State, where he supervised the department's various activities, and concentrated on relations with the U.S.
A.K.
Rotfeld has been involved in foreign policy in one way or another since the very beginning of his carrier. As soon as he finished his studies, he applied for a position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Though he was ultimately rejected, he was one of only three applicants to pass the Ministry's exam.
In 1961, he joined the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs, and remained there in various positions until 1989. While working there, Rotfeld also attained a doctorate in law from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
Due to his Jewish background (only two of his relatives survived the Holocaust), Rotfeld was frequently discriminated against. Even as an experienced specialist in foreign affairs, Rotfeld wasn't able to acquire a passport until 1973.
In 1989 he turned down an offer to be Polish ambassador to "one of the Scandanavian countries" to join the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, where he served as director from 1991-2002. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Rotfeld was deeply involved in Polish delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. In 2000, he was appointed by President Kwaśniewski to the National Security Council.
In 2001 he became the Undersecretary of State, and in 2003 was promoted to Secretary of State, where he supervised the department's various activities, and concentrated on relations with the U.S.
A.K.
