1947-53 Ana Pauker, Romania

1949-52 Vice-President of the Council of Ministers. She lived  (1893-1960).

1956-64 Golda Meïr, Israel

 

Ambassador and Minister since 1948. 1969-74 Premier Minister. She lived (1898-1978).

1960-66 and 1970-77 Sirivamo D.R. Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
 

As Premier Minister she also held a number of other Portfolios, among others as Minister of External Relations. She lived (1916-2000).

1967-69 and 1984 Indira Gandhi, India 

As Premier Minister 1964-66 and 1980-84 she also held a number of other Portfolios, among others as Minister of External Relations. She lived (1917-84).

1969-76 Nguyễn Thị Bình, The Provisorial Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Binh was Foreign Affairs Spokesperson of the National Liberation Front 1966-68 and Head of Delegations to the Peace Negotiations in Paris in 1968. 1976-87 she was Minister of Education in the re-united country. Since 1981 Member of the Council of State and 1987-92 one of a number of Vice-Chairmen of the Council from 1987. 1992-2002 the only  Vice-President (b. 1927-).

1974 Princess Elizabeth Rukidi Nyabongo of Toro, Uganda

Also known as Elizabeth Bagaya, she was Ambassador-at-Large 1971-1973, to Egypt and Ethiopia1973-74, to United Nations 1974, Spokesperson for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Europe 1980-1986, Ambassador to USA 1986-88. In 1989 she refused to be transferred to France. When her brother was reinstalled as king Patric Olimmi Kaboyo II in 1993, she officially took the office of Batebe, chief advisor, which she had been installed to in 1966. When died in 1995 she became one of the guardians for hisson Iguru IV (b. 1993-). Ambassador to Germany 2006-08 and The Vatican 2006-07 and to Nigeria from 2008. She is daughter of King Sir George David Kamurasi Rukidi III of Toro (1927-65) and was married to Prince Wilbur Nyabongo, who died in an aeroplane crash in 1986. (b. 1936-).

1975 (Acting) Licelott Catalina Marte Hoffiz de Barrio, Dominican Republic

Licelott Marte de Barrio was Subsecretary of External Relations when she acted as Secretary from the resignation of the former till the appointment of the next Secretary. She has been a diplomat from 1966 and 1990-93 she was Secretary of State of Finance, 1993-96 Secretary of State in the Office of the President and President of the National Petroleum. From 2002 Secretary of Electoral Affairs of the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC) and Member of the Parliament. (b. ca. 1930-).

1976-78 Karin Söder, Sweden

1979-82 Minister of Health and Social Affairs and of Nordic Co-operation, First Vice-Chairperson 1971-86, Deputy Group Leader 1978-79 and 1982-86, Chairperson of The Center Party 1985-87, President of the Nordic Council 1984-85 and 1989-90, Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs’ Committee of the Riksdag 1984-86. (b. 1928-).

1978-85 Maria do Nascimenta Graça Amorin, Sao Tome e Principe

1975-78 Ambassador to France and Portugal and 1984-96 Member of the Politburo.

1979-80 Flora MacDonald, Canada

Executive Director of the Progressive Conservative Party 1957-66, 1966-69 National Secretary of the Party, MP 1972-89 and 1976 she was candidate for the Leadership of the Social Credit Party, 1984-86 Minister of Labour and Immigration, 1986-89 Minister of Culture and Communication (b. 1926- ).

1979 Gloria Amon Nikoi, Ghana 

1979-81 Minister of Finance, 1979-81 Member of the Revolutionary Council of The Armed Forces (Junta) In 1969-74 she was Deputy Chief of Mission to the UN, from 1981 Chairperson of the Bank of Housing and Construction and then director in the African Development Bank. (b. 1930-).

1980-84 Colette Flesh, Luxembourg

Apart from Foreign Minister she was also Vice-Premier Minister and Minister of External Trade, Economy, the Self Employed and of Justice. In 1980 she was President of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Communities. (b. 1934- ).

1980-90 Dame Eugenia Charles, Dominica

During her tenure as Premier Minister 1980-95, she also held the portfolios of External Affairs 1980-90, Finance and Economy 1980-95, Trade and Industry 1980-85, Defence 1985-95 and Information and Public Relations 1990-95. She lived (1916-2005).

1984-94  Gaositwe Kogakwa Tibe Chiepe, Botswana

Ambassador to United Kingdom, Western Germany, France, European Communities, Denmark, Norway and Nigeria 1970-74. 1974-77 Minister of Trade and Industry, 1977-84 Minister of Mines and Natural Resources, 1994-99 Minister of Education. She retired after the 1999 elections but has acted as Commonwealth election observer in Zanzibar. (b. 1922-).

1987-88 Adrienne Ekila Liyonda, Zaire (Congo)

Worked in the office of the President from 1977, Secretary General of the Mouvement populaire de la révolution 1981, Minister of Social Affairs and Women 1983-85, Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg 1985-87 and Minister of Information and the Press in 1988-89 or in 1990. She lived (1948-2006).

1989 Susana Myrta Ruíz Cerutti, Argentina

Former Secretary of State of External Relations, 1991-98 Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 1998-99 to Canada, 1999-2000 Ambassador and Special Representative for South Atlantic Affairs (Falkland Islands/Malvinas) and 2000-01 Vice-chancellor and Secretary of External Relations (Deputy Foreign Minister). (b. 1940-).

1989-91 Akmaral Khaydarovna Arystanbekova, Kazakstan

In 1987-89 she was member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, 1991-99 Ambassador to the United Nations and to Cuba, 1994-95 Vice-President of the 49^th Session of the UN General Assembly. Ambassador to France from 1999. (b. 1948-).

1990-97 (†) Danielle Jorre de St. Jorre, Seychelles

Between 1984-90 Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Planning. 1990-97 she was also Minister of Economic Planning and 1993-97 she was Minister of Environment. She lived (1943-97).

1991-94  Nohemi Sanín Posada de Rubio, Colombia

1982-85 Minister of Communication, 1985-91 Ambassador to Venezuela and Germany, 1994-98 to United Kingdom, 1998 Presidential Candidate and Leader of Opción Vida (Third way) and came in a surprising third in the Presidential elections. 2002 also candidate. (b. 1949-).

1991-94 Baroness Margaretha af Ugglas, Sweden

A leading member of the Conservative Party. 1992-93 Chairperson-in-Office of CSCE, Conference on security and Co-operation, 1993 Chairperson of the Committee  of Ministers of the Council of Europe. (b. 1939-).

1991-93 Barbara Jean McDougall, Canada

Progressive Conservative MP 1984-93. 1984-86 Minister of State (Finance), 1986-88 Minister of State (Privatization), 1986-90 Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, 1988-91 Minister of Employment and Immigration, 1990 Acting Minister of State (Youth) (b. 1937- ).

1991-92 and 2002 Alda Bandeira Tavares Vaz da Conçeicão, São Tomé e Príncipe

1992-93 she was Minister of Co-operation and 1996 Presidential Candidate. For 4 years President of Partido da convergência democrática-grupo de reflexão (PCD-GR). She is married to former Premier Minister Noberto Costa Alegre. (b. 1949-).

1991-94 Pascaline Mferri Bongo, Gabon

Later Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President and in 2000 Ambassador to USA. She is the daughter of President Omar Bongo. (b. 1956-).

1991 Marie-Denise Fabien-Jean-Louis, Haiti
1991-ca. 92 Minister-in-exile

After the coup d'etat against President Aristide, she followed him in exile. (b. ca. 1944-).

1991-92 Shakhlo Makhmudova, Uzbekistan

The first post-independence Foreign Minister.

1992, 1994-96 and 2005 Roza Otunbayeva, Kyrgyzstan

Otunbaeva was Secretary of the Municipal Communist Central Committee of Frunze 1983-86, 1991-92 Ambassador of the USSR to Malaysia, 1992-93 Ambassador to USA and Canada, 1994 to Turkeyand 1996-2004 Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain. 2004 she became co-leader of the opposition Ata-Zhurt movement. 2005 She and some other opposition-members were barred from standing in the February-elections, and this started a peoples revolution that brought the downfall of President Aliev and the opposition to power and was Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the elections Aliev nominated her as Foreign Minister, but the parliamentary majority rejected her. (b. 1950-).

1993-95 Claudette Werleigh, Haiti

1990-91 she was Minister of Social Affairs, Executive Director of the Washington Office of Haiti 1993, 1995-96 Premier Minister. (b. 1946- ).

1993-2001  Andrea Willi, Liechtenstein

Apart from the Portfolio of External Relations was is also government Councillor of Culture, Youth, Sport Family and Equal Opportunities. Between 1987-93 she worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member of a number of international delegations, 1991 Ambassador to EFTA (European Trade Organization), 1992-93 Ambassador to United Nations in Génève. (b. 1955-).

1993 (Acting) Motarilavoa Hilda Lini, Vanuatu

From 1987 the first female MP. In 1996 she was replaced in the government by her brother ex-premier Father Walter Lini (1942-1982-90-99), she resigned from the National Party and founded her own party, the Tu Vanuatu kominiti, The Vanuatu Movement, Director of the Pacific Concerns Resource Center 2000-04, Representative of the Pacific Region at the UN Non-proliferation Review Conference in 2004 and a chief (Motarilavoa) of the Turaga nation of Pentecost Island.

1994-2008 Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, Barbados

Labour MP from 1976 and holder of various portfolios, among others as Deputy Premier 1994-2003. Later awarded with the title of Dame. (b. 1944-).

1994-98 Lena Hjelm-Wallén, Sweden

1974-76 Minister without Portfolio for Schools, 1982-85 Minister of Education and Culture, 1985-91 Minister of International Development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1995-96 and 1998 Deputy Premier. (b. 1943-).

1994-95 Sy Kadiatou Sow, Mali

 

1994-95 she was also in charge of Malians Abroad and African Integration, Governor of the Capital District of Bamako 1993-94 and Minister of Town Planning and Housing 1995-2000. (b. 1955-).

1994-95  Dorothy Musuleng-Cooper, Liberia

From 1989 First vice-President of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (The guerrilla-movement of Charles Taylor, who later became President), 1993-94 First Secretary of the Council of State, later Special Advisor of the President and from 2001 Minister of Gender Development. (b. 1930-).

1994-95 Maritza Ruiz de Vielman, Guatemala

Among others Ambassador to United Kingdom 2000-03 and afterwards Advisor of the Foreign Minister. She was Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2003 and 2007. (b. 1945-).

1995-2002 Janet Bostwick, Bahamas

The first female MP 1977-2002. 1992-94 Minister of Housing and Labour, 1994-95 Minister of Justice and Immigration, 1995-2001 Attorney General. 1998 she was the first woman to act as Prime Minister during the absence from the country of both the Premier and his deputy, and later acted on various other occasions. Married to The Hon. John Bostwick the President of the Senate 1992-2002, they have 3 children. (b. 1939-).

1995-2000 Tarja Halonen, Finland

 

In 2000 she was elected President of the republic. See Presidents (b. 1943-).

1995-96 Susanna Agnelli, Italy

1983-93 Under-secretary of Foreign Affairs, Member of the EU-Troyka of Foreign Ministers 1995-96. Formerly Married to Count Urbano Rattazzi and mother of 6 children. She lived (1922-2009)

1996-98 María Emma Mejía Vélez de Caballero, Colombia

1993-95 Ambassador to Spain, 1995-96 Minister of Education 1998 Vice-Presidential Candidate. 2000 Candidate for Mayor of Bogotá and later Ambassador to a number of UN Organisations. (b. 1953-).

1996-97 (Acting) Irena Georgieva Bokova, Bulgaria

1995-97 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Integration, 1996-97 1. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1996 Candidate for President and 1997-2001 Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2005-09 Ambassador to France, and Director General of UNESCO from 2009. (b. 1952-).

1996-97 Tansu Çiller, Turkey

1991-93 Minister of State, Chief Economic Coordinator 1993-96 Premier Minister. During her tenure as Foreign Minister she was also Deputy Premier. (b. 1946-).

1997-2001 Madeleine Korbel Albright, United States of America

Madeleine Albright was United Nations Representative (Ambassador) 1993-97. As Secretary of State she was the highest ranking of the secretaries and fourth in the hierarchy of the Republic, after the President, Vice-President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Born in Czechoslovakia as Maria Jana Korbelova. (b. 1937-).

1997-2001 Nadezhda Nikolova Mihailova, Bulgaria

Chief of Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Department 1990-91, 1991-93 Government Spokesperson and since 1995-2002 Deputy Chairperson of Union of Democratic Forces, Parliamentary Leader 2001-05 and Party Leader 2002-06, Vice-President of the European People's Party from 1999. Mother of two daughters. (b. 1962-).

1997-98 Shirley Yema Gbujoma, Sierra Leone

Around 1970 she was ambassador to Senegal, 1996-97 Minister of Tourism and Culture. In 1998 she was Minister-in-exile of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Since 1998 Minister of Social Welfare, Children’s Affairs and Gender. (b. ca. 1935-).

1997-98 Zdenka Kramplova, Slovakia

1992-1994 advisor to the Prime Minister, 1994-1997 Head of the Government office, also former Ambassador to Canada. Minister of Agriculture 2007-08. (b. 1957-).

1997, 1998 (March-April), 1999, 2000 (November), 2001, 2002 (January), 2003 (June), 2004 (June/July)... 2006 (May) (Acting) H.R.H. Princess Hajah Masna binti Omer Ali of Brunei, Brunei

Since 1995 Ambassador-at-Large and Second in Command of the Foreign Ministry and Acting Foreign Minister and Head of Delegations to APEC, ASEAN, ASEM and other international summits on various occasions. She is the sister of HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkian Muizzaddin of Brunei and married to Pengiran Lela Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haja Abu Bakar. Her full title is Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri or Yang Teramat Mulina Pengiran Anak Puteri. (b. 1948-).

1997-2002 Minister of Foreign Affairs Naira Melkumian, Nargonyi-Karabakh 

Formerly the Province of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan, an enclave inside Armenian Territory inhabited by Armenians. The republic declared its independence in 1992 and Naira Melkumian was very active on the international scene in behalf of the republic during her tenure in office.

1998-2002 Lila Ratsifandrihamanana, Madagascar

1997-98 Minister of Scientific Research, Ambassador to Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Cape Verde and Côte d’Ivoire 2002-06 and Permanent Observer of the African Union from 2006. Also known as Ramatoa Ratsifandrihamanana Lia (b. 1959-).Also known as Ramatoa Ratsifandrihamanana Lia (b. 1959-).

1998-2003 (†) Anna Lindh, Sweden

Deputy Mayor of Stockholm 1991-94, Minister of Environment and Planning 1994-98. President of the Council of the European Union (Coundil of Ministers) 2001. The most popular politician in the country, she was killed while shopping by a young man of Serbian origin. In an interview Prime Minister Göran Persson said that he had planned stepping down in 2005 and hand over power to her. She was married to the former Minister Bo Holmberg (1942-2010), who was Governor of Södermanland, and mother of two sons b. 1991 and 1994, and lived (1957-2003).

1998-2000 Rosario Green Macías de Heller, Mexico

María del Rosaro Gloria was Ambassador to East Germany, DDR 1989-90, Subsecretary of Foreign Affairs for Latin America, Cultural Affairs and International Co-operation, 1992-94, Deputy Secretary General of United Nations for Political Affairs 1994-98, Ambassador to Argentina from 2001, Secretary General of PRI 2005-07 and Senator since 2006 (b. 1941-)

1998-2000 Tuyaa Nyam-Osoryn, Mongolia

In 1999 she was appointed acting Premier after the former premier resigned. (b. 1958-).

1999-2004 Lydie Polfer, Luxembourg

Apart from being Foreign Minister she was also Vice-Premier Minister and Minister of External Trade and Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform. She was Mayor of Luxembourg Ville 1982-99, Member of the Bureau of Chamber des Deputées, President of the Parti Democratique 1994-2004, Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2002 and from 2004 Member of the European Parliament. (b. 1952-).

1999-2009  Nkosazana C. Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa

1994-99 Minister of Health. Offered the post of Deputy President in 2005 after her ex-husband, Jacob Zuma was fired after corruption charges. She was candidate for the post of Deputy President of ANC in 2007 but lost to a man, who has been also been charged with corruption, like her ex-husband who became ANC President and State President in 2009. Minister of Home Affairs from 2009. (b. 1949-).

1999-2004 Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Avila, El Salvador

Former Academic and administrative career. (1956-).

1999-2000 and 2001-10 Dodo Aïchatou Mindaoudou, Niger

1995-96 she was Minister of Social Development, Population and Women. 2010 the government was deposed in a military coup d'etat. (b. 1959-).

1999 Hilia Barber, Guinea-Bissau

Also known as Ilia her full name is Hilia Garez Gomes Lima Barber, she was ambassador to Israel 1995-99. (b. 1942-).

2000-04 Soledad Alvear Valenzuela, Chile

1990-94 Minister for the National Women Service, 1994-99 Minister of Justice; She was leader of the Election Campaign of President Ricardo Lagos Escobar in 1999, before becoming Chancellor or Foreign Minister. She was chosen as the Christian Democratic Party's candidate for the primary of the centre-left Concertacion coalition, but she quit the race in May 2005 to pave the way for Michelle Barchelet's nomination. Senator and President of the Democracia Cristiana 2006-09. (b. 1951-).

2000-04 Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austria 
2004-10 Commissioner of External Relations, European Union

A career diplomat, 1993 she was Minister-Counsellor and Assistant Chief of Protocol of the Foreign Ministry, 1994-1995 Assistant Secretary General of the United Nation and Chief of Protocol 1995-2000 Minister of State of Foreign Affairs. In 2000 she was Chairperson-in-Office of OSCE and Presidential Candidate 2004 and Candidate for the post of Director General of UNOESCO in 2009. (b. 1948-).

2000-02 Haja Mahawa Bangoura Camara, Guinea

In 1995 she was Ambassador to USA and later to the United Nations. Her official title was Minister to the presidency charged with Foreign Affairs and an alternative version of her name is Camara Hadja Mawa Bangoura.

2000-04 Lillian E. Patel, Malawi

1996-99 Minister of Women's and Children's' Affairs, Community Development and Social Welfare 1999-2000 Minister of Health and Population. From 2004 Minister of Labour and Vocational Training.

2000-05 Maria Elisabeth Levens, Suriname

Trained teacher and former head of various bureaus within the Ministry of Education and Community Development and Policy Advisor to the Minister of Education. Also chair or member of several commissions, from 1975 Secretary of the Progressive Women’s Union and Chairperson of the Forum of NGO’s in Suriname 1991-2000.  (b. 1950-).

2001 Antonieta Rosa Gomes, Guinea Bissau

Leader of Foro Cívic da Guiné (Guinean Civil Forum) since 1995 and Presidential Candidate in 1994 and 1999. 2000-2001 Minister of Justice. 2001 also third in the cabinet. 

2001-02 Tanaka Makiko, Japan

1994-95 Minister of State, Director General of Science and Technology Agency.  Tanaka Makiko is has been an LDP MP since 1993 and is daughter of the late former Premier Tanaka Kakulei  (b. 1944-).

2001 and 2002-06 Ilinka Mitreva, Macedonia

2001-02 Arta Dade, Albania

1997-98 and again from 2002 Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and after that Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Party and Vice-Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament. (b. 1948-).

2001-02 Filomena Mascarenhas Tipote, Guinea Bissau

2000-01 Secretary of State, in 2001 Minister of Employment and Poverty Control, 2002-2003 Minister of Public Works, Labour and Employment and 2003-04 Minister of Defence. (b. 1969-).

2002-05 Kristiina Ojuland, Estonia

2002-04 Yoriko Kawaguchi, Japan

2002-04 Ana Palacio Vallelersundi, Spain

Held various high administrative and political positions before being elected to the European Parliament in 1994 where she chaired a number of committees and was member of the Presidium of the European Convention in 2002-03. (b. 1948-).

2002 and 2003 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The Philippines 

The Philippine President since 2001 was in charge of the Foreign Affairs Portfolio throughout July 2002 and again in December 2003. Minister of Defence 2003 and 2006-07. See more details in Presidents (b. 1947-).  

2002- Carolina Barco Isackson, Colombia

Until 2002 Director of Planning of the City Administration of Bogotá. She is daughter of the late President Virgilio Barco Vargas. (b. ca. 1950-).

2002-04 María de Fátima Lima Veiga, Capo Verde

Ambassador to Cuba 1999-2001 and Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs 2001-02 Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations 2004-07 and to USA from 2007. (b. 1957-).

2002-04 Sandra Kalniete, Latvia

1988-90 Secretary-in-Charge of the Coordinating Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Latvian Popular Front (LPF), 1990–93 Deputy Foreign Minister and Chief of Protocol, 1993-97 Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, 1997–2002 Ambassador to France and 2000-02 concurrently to UNESCO. European Commissioner without Portfolio attached to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development in 2004. Presidential candidate in 2007. (b. 1952-).

2003- Micheline Calmy-Rey, Switzerland

Former President of the Socialist Party of Génève, she was President of the Grand Conseil of Génève 1993, Councillor of Finance 1997-2002, Vice-President of the Government 2000-01 and President of the Government 2001-02. Vice-President of the Confedeation in 2006 President in 2007. (b. 1945-).

2003 Nina Pacari Vega, Ecuador

The first from the native Quéchua-Indian population to become Vice-President of Congreso Nacional 1999-2000 and 2000 acting President of the congress for one day. Founder of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE). In August 2003 her party left the government. (b. 1960-).

2003 Fatoumata Djau Baldé, Guinea Bissau

Before her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and the Communities she was Secretary of State of Tourism 2002 and then Secretary of State of Social Solidarity and Employment. In June a prominent leader of the opposition, Francisca Vaz Turpin, had been named Foreign Minister, but she refused to take up her appointment.

2003-06 Leila Rachid de Cowles, Paraguay

1996-98 Vice-Minister of External Relations, and her country's first female Ambassador, posted to Argentina 1999-2000 and to the United States 2000-03. Prior to that she served as a professor at a number of Paraguayan institutions of higher learning. (b. 1955-).

2003-06 Laila Freivalds, Sweden

Minister of Justice 1988-90 and 1994-2000, when she had to resign over a scandal concerning her flat. In 2006 when she had lied about her attempts to censor an extreme rightwing website. Her only daughter is born in 1986. Born in Estonia (b. 1942-).

2003-04 Teresa Pinto Basto Gouveia, Portugal

Teresa Gouveia was Secretary of State of Culture 1985-89 and 1991 Secretary of State of Environment and 1993-95 Minister of Environment. Member of the Parliament for the Conservative Social Democrats. She was against the appointment of Pedro Santana Lopes as successor of José Durão Barroso as Prime Minister and resigned from the government. Her full name is Maria Teresa Pinto Basto Patrício Gouveia. (b. 1946-).

2003-04 Delia Domingo Albert, Philippines

A career diplomat since 1967 among others as Ambassador to Australia, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and the ASEAN and as Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Relations from 2002-03. From 2004 Presidential Advisor for Multilateral Cooperation and Development and Natural Resources. Ambassador to Germany since 2005. (b. 1942-).

2003-06 Edna Adan Ismail, Somaliland

A former World Health Organization representative in Djibouti, she founded and is the Co-Patron and Vice President of the Board of Trustees of Somaliland's first Maternity Hospital. 2002-03 Minister of Family Welfare and Social Development as the first woman minister. Somaliland is a self-declared and de-facto independent republic. (b. 1937-).

2004-05 Salomé Zurabishvili, Georgia

Decending from Georgian emigrees to France and French ambassador to Georgia 2003-04, after various diplomatic postings. Leader of the Georgia's Way party from 2006. (b. 1953-).

2004-08 Ursula Plassnik, Austria

Chief of Cabinet of Federal Chancellor Wolfang Schüssel 1997-2004 and Ambassador to Switzerland. President of the Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers or Council for General of General Affairs and External Relations) in 2006. Did not want to continue in the government in 2008. (b. 1956-).

2005-09 Condoleezza Rice, United States of America

Director of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council 1989-93. Professor of International Affairs of Stanford University. 2001-05 Cabinet Member and National Security Advisor. (b. 1954-)

2005-08 Alcinda Abreu, Moçambique

Alcinda Antonio de Abreu was MP 1977-94, Minister of Social Action Co-ordination 1994-97 and later among others Advisor of the Prime Minister and Minister of Environment from 2008. (b. 1953-).

2005-08  Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Croatia

From 2003 Minister of European Integration and the two ministries merged in 2005. English and Spanish languages professor and former adviser in the Foreign Ministry. (b. 1968-).

2005-06 Sidibé Fatoumata Kaba, Guinea

Worked in the Foreign Ministry since 1980 from 2000 as Director of Political and Cultural Affairs with rank of Ambassador. 2002-05 Ambassador to Nigeria and Minister of International Cooperation 2006-08. Mother of 3 children. (b. ca. 1968-).

2006 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria

Former Vice-President of  the World Bank and Corporate Secretary. Minister of Finance 2003-06, and when she was appointed Foreign Affairs in June 2006, she continued as the  Head of the Economic Reform Team, but resigned from the government after being fired from this post in August.

2007-08 Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Cyprus

Worked in the UN Mission 1980-88 before returning to the Foreign Office, Ambassador to Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway 1996-98, Ambassador to USA, Argentina, Brazil, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay 1998-2003, Director of the Cyprus Question and EU-Turkey Affairs Division at the Foreign Ministry from 2003, Non-resident Ambassador to Jordan 2003-2007. (b. 1949-).

2007- Zainab Hawa Bangura, Sierra Leone

Co-founder and Chairperson of the Movement for Progress in 2002 and Presidential Candidate the same year and hief Civil Affairs Officer of the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2005. (b.1959-).

2008 (Acting) Helen Clark, New Zealand

MP since 1981. Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee 1984-87, Minister of Housing and Conservation 1987-89, Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour and Health 1989-90, Deputy Leader of Labour and of the Opposition 1990-93 and Leader of Labour 1993-2008 and Leader of the Opposition 1993-99. Prime Minister 1999-2008 and also held the Portfolio of Arts and Culture and Security Intelligence Service and Ministerial Services and Acting Foreign Minister August-November 2008 when the incombent stepped aside because of fraud investigations. In 1981 she married Dr. Peter Davis. No children. (b. 1950-).