The Embassy of the Republic of Korea cordially invites you to the
“Embassy Speakers Series”
On Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea
▣ Background
2013 marks the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Canada and the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. To commemorate this special year, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea is hosting an Embassy Speakers Series highlighting a wide range of topics regarding Korea-Canada relations.
The main purpose of the Series is to provide our Canadian and Korean audience members with the insights and perspectives of some of Canada’s most prominent dignitaries who have long been engaged in Korea-Canada relations. Likewise, our guest speakers have the opportunity to reflect on their own unique understanding of the topic in question and shed light on the future prospects for Korea-Canada relations.
▣ Speaker : Ambassador Marius Grinius
After twelve years of military service in the Canadian Army, Marius Grinius joined the Canadian Foreign Service in 1979. He has had two postings to Thailand, one to the Canadian Delegation to the North Atlantic Council (NATO), and two postings to the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam, the second as Ambassador (1997 – 1999). His tours of duty at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa included desk officer for nuclear arms control, and as Director of the Asia Pacific South and then Southeast Asia Divisions.
He then had a series of assignments in Ottawa, including in the Privy Council Office as principal analyst in the Social Development Policy Secretariat and as Director of Operations in the Security and Intelligence Secretariat, as well as Director-General of Operations in the Department of Western Economic Diversification.
After concluding his tour as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (2004 -2007) and concurrently to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2005 - 2007), he was posted to Geneva as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Office of the United Nations and to the UN Conference on Disarmament. From September 2011 to July 2012 he served as the Director General International Security Policy at the
Department of National Defence, Ottawa. He retired in November 2012 after 45 years in Canada’s Public Service.
▣ Topic : “North Korea: Next Challenges”
Based on his experiences as Ambassador to South Korea and the first Canadian Ambassador in Seoul to be cross-accredited to North Korea, Marius Grinius will provide his impressions of North Korea from his four visits to Pyongyang, as well as comment on recent developments in North Korea and the region. Finally, and time permitting, he will address some of the challenges related to future Korean unification.
