Arctic Council welcomes new SAOs from Russia and Sweden October 15, 2014The Russian FederationSweden The Arctic Council is pleased to announce the recent appointment of new Senior Arctic Officials from Sweden and from the Russian Federation. --- VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH BARBIN Vladimir V. Barbin assumed his duties as Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Senior Arctic Official of Russia to the Arctic Council in summer of 2014. Before his appointment, Ambassador Barbin served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Ghana and to the Republic of Liberia (non resident). After graduating from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Vladimir V. Barbin began his diplomatic career in 1979 and has since then occupied various positions at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and abroad. He speaks Russian, English, Swedish and Finnish. Professional Record: 2014 - present - Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Senior Arctic Official of Russia to the Arctic Council 2010-2014 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Ghana and to the Republic of Liberia (non resident) 2006-2009 – Deputy Director of the Second European Department, MFA 2002-2006 – Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Russia in Sweden 1999-2002 - Chief of Branch of the Second European Department, MFA 1996-1999 - Counsellor of the Embassy of Russia in Finland 1979-1996 - various diplomatic positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ANNA KARIN ENESTRÖM New Swedish Senior Arctic Official and Ambassador for Neighbourhood Security Anna Karin Eneström started her assignment as Swedish Senior Arctic Official and Ambassador for Neighbourhood Security on 1 October 2014. She comes most recently from Brussels, where she has been the Swedish Representative to the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) for four years. Anna Karin Eneström has served as Swedish Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and as the Swedish Ambassador in Islamabad. She worked in New York for several years at the Swedish Representation to the UN and as Deputy Head of Cabinet of the President of the UN General Assembly. Anna Karin Eneström has also served in Strasbourg and Nairobi and at different departments within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, including International Law and Human Rights and Global Cooperation.