For much of his 24-year diplomatic career De Thomas has worked on European and global security issues with his last post being at the United States' Bureau of Nonproliferation. Before that he headed the Office of European Union and Regional Affairs and served in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. His numerous posts abroad have included spells in Vienna, Addis Ababa and Tehran. In Mexico he was involved in earthquake relief work and in Ethiopia assisted in the rescue of 28,000 Ethiopian Jews during the Ethiopian civil war.
De Thomas earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Pennsylvania State University, as well as a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.
Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, De Thomas speaks German, Spanish and Farsi, and he is studying Estonian. He is married and the father of two children.
On Nov. 29, Ali Bous-nina, Tuni-sia's first ambassador to Lithuania, presented his credentials to President Valdas Adamkus.
The ambassador expressed hope that Lithuania and Tunisia would take all opportunities to deepen cooperation, dialogue and solidarity between European countries and those of the southern Mediterranean, in order to ensure safety and stability.
For his part Adamkus applauded increased trade flows between the two countries and expressed hope that the trend would continue. He also called for an expansion of political and cultural ties between the countries.
Lithuania's exports to Tunisia amounted to $53,000 last year, while imports stood at $206,000, with both indicators expected to rise by some 70 percent to 75 percent this year.
Bousnina, 59, will reside in Warsaw and be the first diplomatic envoy of his country to Lithuania. Lithuania has yet to appoint an ambassador to Tunisia.
The former head of Lithuania's department of ethnic minorities and Lithuanians living ab-road, Re-migijus Motuzas, has been appointed adviser to the Council of Europe's ministerial committee based in Lithuania's newly established permanent mission to the Council of Europe.
Having resigned as head of the department he headed since 1997, Motuzas starts in his new position in Strasbourg this week.
His deputy, Steponas Kulbauskas, has been appointed acting head of the department as of Dec. 3 and will stay in the post until a replacement is found.
A new position was established at the Lithuanian representation to the Council of Europe after the Baltic state took over the presidency of the council's ministerial committee on Nov. 8.
This is the first time Lithuania has chaired such a large multilateral political structure since it joined the 43 member organization in 1993.
Great Britain will continue to support Lithuania's efforts to join the European Union and NATO, newly appointed British Ambassador Jeremy Hill said on Nov. 28.
Presenting his credentials to Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Hill praised Lithuania's progress toward joining the two international organizations.
The Lithuanian president, in his turn, expressed satisfaction at recent increases in trade between the two countries but noted that the level of British investment in Lithuania had currently failed to reflect the country's potential.
"We will seek to develop economic cooperation and attract more capital from your country," said Adamkus.
Prior to his arrival in Lithuania, Hill, who has worked for the British Foreign Office for some 20 years, headed its Southern European department. He had earlier served in Bonn and Brussels.
In addition to his native language, he speaks French and German and is now embarking on Lithuanian lessons.
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