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Her Excellency DatuAnnika MarkovicGCrS
Markovic in 2024
Ambassador of Sweden to Austria
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 August 2021
Preceded by	Mikaela Kumlin Granit
Ambassador of Sweden to the Netherlands
In office 1 September 2018 – 18 March 2021
Preceded by	Per Holmström
Succeeded by	Johannes Oljelund
Ambassador of Sweden to Brazil
In office August 2007 – 31 August 2011
Preceded by	Margareta Winberg
Succeeded by	Magnus Robach
Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines
In office 2003–2007
Preceded by	Ulf Håkansson
Succeeded by	Inger Ultvedt
Personal details
Born	Annika Lisa Markovic (1964-06-09) 9 June 1964 (age 60) Stockholm, Sweden
Alma mater	University of Stockholm Sorbonne University
Occupation	Diplomat

Annika Lisa Markovic (born 9 June 1964) is a Swedish diplomat who became the incumbent ambassador to Austria since 2021. She has formerly been appointed as the ambassador to the Netherlands from 2018 to 2021, Brazil from 2008 to 2011, and the Philippines from 2003 to 2007.

Education

Markovic majored in social sciences from the upper secondary school Brännkyrka Gymnasium in 1982, and received her degree from the University of Stockholm in business economics in 1986. She also has a diploma from the Sorbonne University in Paris, certification of Langue et de Civilisation in 1983.

Diplomatic career

Philippines

Markovic began as the first secretary at the Swedish Mission to the United Nations in New York City from 1995 to 1999. Later, she became the deputy director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' multilateral department from 2000 to 2003. She would receive her first high-raking appointed as the Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau from 2003 to 2007.

Brazil

On 20 June 2007, the Swedish government designated Ambassador Markovic as its next envoy to Brasilia, Brazil. She has worked with the UN and disarmament matters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among other things. Her official term started in August 2007. Both side-accredited as Sweden's ambassador to Suriname and in Brasília. On 31 January 2008, she gave President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva her letters of credential. On 31 August 2011, Markovic left her position as ambassador to Brasilia.

United Nations

She then served as an environmental ambassador for the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1 September 2011 to February 2014. For both Ministries, she was named co-chair of the CCAC. Following the UN Climate Summit in September 2014, she resigned from her role as co-chair of the CCAC to resume her "day job" as Sweden's ambassador to the OECD and UNESCO in Paris.

The CCAC has decided to increase the scope of its initiatives in the areas of agriculture, methane reduction in the oil and gas industry, alternative refrigeration, cleaner transportation, and municipal solid waste management. The Coalition's explosive expansion is proof that its members are really motivated to change the world. They have been able to support this effort so enthusiastically because they are searching for a platform to create tangible results," Markovic said in April 2014.

Markovic was selected by the Swedish government to serve as the OECD and UNSECO ambassador in Paris on 20 January 2014. She started working there on 17 February 2014. On 31 August 2018, she concluded her tenure as an ambassador for OECD and UNSECO, and be reappointed as the Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and to the International Criminal Court in The Hague 2018 to 2021.

On 10 July 2018, Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, and Markovic signed a Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in which Sweden agreed to provide SEK430 million, or roughly US$48 million, over the course of four years in addition to its annual budgetary contribution to the organisation. Sweden has committed a historic amount of nearly US$100 million in voluntary donations to the Organization's programs, including assistance for UNESCO's national initiatives.

On 28 November 2014, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and Markovic signed a Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) to the value of close to SEK400 million over a four-year period. On 16 September 2021, Ghada Waly, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), received the credentials of Markovic, the newly appointed Permanent Representative of Sweden.

Netherlands

She would be appointed as the new Ambassador of Sweden to the Netherlands on 1 September 2018, taking over Per Holmström. Markovic and Ines Coppoolse took part in a webinar that we co-hosted with the Swedish Chamber on 4 June 2020, discussing their thoughts and observations about their respective nations.

Austria and Slovakia

On 16 September 2021, President Alexander Van der Bellen received the credentials of Markovic, the recently appointed Swedish ambassador to Austria. In addition, She serves as Sweden's Permanent Delegate to the International Organisations in Vienna as well as its Ambassador to Slovakia. On 11 January 2022, at the Ministry of Defence, Markovic was received by Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď. The goal of the conversation, which was Ambassador Markovic's first chance to speak with the Defence Minister since accepting her position in the Diplomatic Service, was to examine potential avenues for future bilateral collaboration between the two nations.

Honours

The outgoing Markovic was awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the title of Datu (Grand Cross) by the President in recognition of her excellent and sterling service as her nation's envoy in the Philippines. In recognition of his services as an ambassador in Brasilia, Markovic was awarded the Order of the Southern Cross in 2011.

• Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna (GCrS; 2007) – Datu
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (2011)

Personal life

Markovic is bilingual in English and Swedish. She has three kids and is married.

References

1. ^ "Botschafter | Cercle Diplomatique Magazin". www.cercle-diplomatique.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
2. ^ "Permanent Representative of Sweden presents credentials". United Nations : Information Service Vienna. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
3. "Ny ambassadör till Brasilia". 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
4. "Presentation av kreditivbrev". pbase.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
5. "Nya ambassadörer tillträder". 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
6. ""Ministers have been excited and have pushed us" | Climate & Clean Air Coalition". www.ccacoalition.org. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
7. "CCAC Invests $10 Million in New Work to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, Focuses on Human Health". UN Environment. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
8. "Ny chef för Sveriges delegation vid OECD och Unesco i Paris". 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
9. "Sweden commits additional $48 million to UNESCO to reinforce strategic partnership | Articles". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
10. "Sweden Champions Support to UNESCO". UNESCO. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
11. "Welcome new Swedish Ambassador Annika Markovic! – Swedish Chamber of Commerce". Retrieved 2 December 2023.
12. "The Dutch and Swedes are made for each other". Dutch Chamber – The Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Sweden. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
13. "Meet the New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Austria". Vindobona.org | Vienna International News. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
14. "Defence Minister Naď meets new Swedish Ambassador Markovic for talks on quality and enhancement of defence and security cooperation". Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
15. TODAY, DAVAO (11 June 2007). "Sweden donates P100 million to beef up Philippines' drive against tax cheats". Davao Today. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
16. "Sweden donates P100M to RP for fund vs. tax cheats". GMA News Online. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
17. "DECRETO S/Nº, DE 24/08/2011 – DOU 25/08/2011". SINTESE. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2023.

• 1964 births
• Living people
• People from Stockholm
• Ambassadors of Sweden to Austria
• Ambassadors of Sweden to Slovakia
• Ambassadors of Sweden to Brazil
• Ambassadors of Sweden to Suriname
• Ambassadors of Sweden to the Philippines
• Ambassadors of Sweden to the Netherlands
• Swedish women diplomats
• Swedish women ambassadors
• Stockholm University alumni
• University of Paris alumni