Narisoa Rajaonarivony

Narisoa Rajaonarivony is a Malagasy diplomat and politician who is currently Madagascar's Ambassador to France. Previously he was Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Economy, Finance and the Budget in 2002, then Ambassador to the United States beginning in 2003.

Rajaonarivony is a long-time associate of Marc Ravalomanana; together with Ravalomanana, he founded the Tiko Farm in 1988.^[1] When Ravalomanana, who claimed to have won the December 2001 presidential election against President Didier Ratsiraka, was sworn in as President by his supporters (despite Ratsiraka's continuing claims to the office), he appointed Rajaonarivony as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Economy, Finance and the Budget in his first government, named on March 1, 2002.^[2] Rajaonarivony left the government on October 7, 2002.^[3] On February 26, 2003, he became Ambassador to the United States;^[4] he additionally presented his credentials as Ambassador to Colombia to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe on November 21, 2003^[5] and as Ambassador to Mexico to Mexican President Vicente Fox on August 18, 2004.^[6]

After five years as Ambassador to the US, Rajaonarivony was appointed as Ambassador to France in early January 2008;^[7] he was additionally accredited for Spain, the United Kingdom, the Vatican City, and Israel.^[1] After a significant wait, he presented his credentials to French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 22 April 2008.^[8] He also presented his credentials as Ambassador to the Vatican City to Pope Benedict XVI on 18 December 2008.^[9] After Ravalomanana's March 2009 ouster, President Andry Rajoelina promptly dismissed Rajaonarivony, who was considered a Ravalomanana loyalist, from his posting in France on 27 March 2009. However, in mid-May 2009, the High Constitutional Court ruled that he and four other dismissed ambassadors should remain in their posts.^[10]

Rajaonarivony is an alumnus of Auburn University, University of Pittsburgh and the University of Madagascar. He is married with three children.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Narisoa Rajaonarivony le nouvel ambassadeur malgache en France s'est rendu à Marseille", Midi Madagasikara (allAfrica.com), 28 February 2008 (French).
2. ^ "Le gouvernement du Madagascar formé le 1er mars 2002", Afrique Express, N° 246, March 14, 2002 (French).
3. ^ "Démission du vice-premier ministre “Super-ministère” de l’Economie, des Finances et du Budget", Afrique Express, N° 257, October 17, 2002 (French).
4. ^ ^{a b} Washington Diplomat biography.
5. ^ "Madagascar's first envoy to Colombia presents credentials to Colombian president", Financial Times (accessmylibrary.com), 27 November 2003.
6. ^ "Lettre de créances de Narisoa Rajaonarivony au président du Mexique", madanight.com, 30 August 2004.
7. ^ Iloniaina Alain, "Chaise musicale pour les ambassadeurs", L'Express de Madagascar (allAfrica.com), 4 January 2008 (French).
8. ^ "Narisoa Rajanarivony enfin accrédité", Madagascar Tribune, 23 April 2008 (French).
9. ^ "Le pape reçoit le nouvel ambassadeur de la République de Madagascar", Eucharistie Miséricorde, 18 December 2008 (French).
10. ^ "Madagascar: la Haute Cour rejette la décision gouvernementale sur cinq ambassadeurs", Xinhua, 17 May 2009 (French).

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Name	Narisoa, Rajaonarivony
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