Olof Rydbeck

Olof Rydbeck, 1955.

Olof Rydbeck (April 15, 1913 – December 23, 1995) was a Swedish ambassador, head of Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, Sweden's ambassador to the UN, and Commissioner-General of UNRWA.

Early life

Rydbeck was born on April 15, 1913 in Djursholm, Sweden. He was the son of bank manager Oscar Rydbeck and Signe Olsson. He married Monica Schnell in 1940.

Education

Rydbeck finished a Bachelor's degree in 1934 and a master's degree in 1936 at Uppsala University

Career and later life

Rydbeck served in Sweden's first mission to the UN, led by Östen Undén. In 1952, he was appointed to the Foreign Ministry's press officer. In 1955, Rydbeck left the diplomatic service and became Director-General of the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, a position which he held for fifteen years. In 1970 Rydbeck returned to the diplomatic service and represented Sweden at the UN in New York from 1970 to 1976. During this time he was appointed by the Secretary General to negotiate Western Sahara's future. From 1976 to 1979, he was ambassador to the U.K. Rydbeck served as UNRWA Commissioner-General from 1979 to 1985.^[1]

In 1990, Olof Rydbeck published his memoirs, I maktens närhet. Diplomat, radiochef, FN-ämbetsman (In the vicinity of power. Diplomat, radio chief, UN officer).

Rydbeck died on December 23, 1995 in Stocksund, Sweden.

See also

• List of Directors and Commissioners-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Sources

• Olof Rydbeck, I maktens närhet. Diplomat, radiochef, FN-ämbetsman, Bonnier 1990.

References

1. Benjamin N. Schiff, Refugees Unto the Third Generation: UN Aid to Palestinians, (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1995), p. 293.