Senior Canadian Diplomat joins Munk Centre as Visiting Fellow

Newswise — Canadian ambassador Arif Z. Lalani joined the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto as Senior Visiting Fellow on August 9, 2008.

Lalani recently served as Canadian Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008. Previously, Lalani was Canadian Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and to the Republic of Iraq. Mr. Lalani joined the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in 1991 and has also held posts in Turkey (with accreditation to Georgia and Azerbaijan), at the United Nations Security Council and in Washington, D.C.

In Ottawa, he has worked in the Office of the Senior Advisor for the Middle East Peace Process; as Coordinator for the Balkans; as Director, South Asia; and Director General, Asia South and Pacific. Mr. Lalani was the founder and chairperson of the foreign ministry's Working Group on Relations with Muslim Communities from 2005-2006.

"Ambassador Lalani's unique experiences in a range of senior diplomatic posts give him important insights into the functioning of Canadian foreign policy in highly complex circumstances," said Janice Stein, Director, Munk Centre for International Studies. "His participation at Munk will be a major contribution to our dialogue about Canada's place in the world."

On 31 July 2008, Afghan President Hamid Karzai awarded Ambassador Lalani the Alam Sayad Jamal-u-Din al Afghani medal for his contribution toward building peace and stability in Afghanistan -- the country's highest civilian award for foreigners. In Canada, he has been awarded the Ministers Award for Excellence for his work with the UN Security Council and of the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to Canada and Canadians.

Mr. Lalani is a graduate of the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in International Relations.

The Munk Centre for International Studies is Canada's leading academic centre specializing in international relations and is an internationally recognized leader in interdisciplinary research and teaching on global issues.