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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release September 9, 1997
                PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES ROBIN LYNN RAPHEL 
             AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

President Clinton today announced his intent to nominate Robin Lynn Raphel, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, to be United States Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia.

Ms. Raphel, of Washington, began her career as a lecturer in history at Damavand College, Tehran, Iran. She first worked for the federal government as an economic analyst for the CIA from 1973 to 1975. She went on to Islamabad, Pakistan, where she worked for USAID as an economic/financial analyst and then joined the Foreign Service. Upon returning to Washington, D.C. in 1978, Ms. Raphel worked at the State Department in several capacities -- Economist in the Office of Investment Affairs; Economic Officer on the Israel Desk; Staff Aide for the Assistant Secretary for the Near East and South Asian Affairs Bureau; and Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. In 1984, she moved to the U.S. Embassy in London to cover Middle Eastern, South Asian, African and East Asian issues. She was Counselor for Political Affairs in South Africa from 1988 to 1991 and in India from 1991 to 1993. Since August of 1993, she has served as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs.

Ms. Raphel received a B.A. in history and economics from the University of Washington and attended the University of London. She also did graduate work in history at Cambridge University and earned an M.A. in economics from the University of Maryland.

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