Profile Karl Bildt, Lord Owen's Successor

Date and Place of Birth: July 15, 1949, Halmstaad, Sweden.

A Political Gene: Great-great-grandson of Gils Bildt, Swedish Prime Minister 1888-89, great-grandson of Knut Bildt, army chief of staff late last century, son-in-law to Gosta Bohman, a prominent moderate official. Wife Mia, two children.

Political Career: At lightning speed. At age 24 he became leader of the Student Conservatives Federation and soon afterwards quit school to devote his time to politics. He held posts in various state committees and was elected to the Riksdag (parliament) at age 30. He took over the Swedish Conservative party (moderates) in 1986 and finally became Prime Minister five years later. He kept that post up to 1994 when the Social Democrats took power again.

What's Special About Him: Bildt never kept secret the fact that he learned the names of most types of planes and submarines before he learned to read. That passion never left him and he is considered an expert on security and geo-strategy. used to be a regular columnist with several Nordic papers. Bildt entered the history of Swedish politics as one of the youngest Prime Ministers. His power of concentration is famous: while studying important documents he is simultanously giving an interview in a foreign language. He is meticulate and thorough.

He caused a small scandal when he refused to move out of his apartment into the huge prime minister's residence in Stockholm. He relented in the end for security reasons. Besides Swedish, he speaks faultless English and good German.

Political Role Model: Margaret Thatcher.

What Was He Like As A Prime Minister: Respected rather than loved. Arrogant and persistent. His determination and arrogance drew frequent comparisons with Ulof Palme. Bildt was the fiercest advocate of Sweden's entry into the EU. He is said to know the Maastricht treaty by heart. He has published three books including "The Citizen of Halland, Sweden, Europe". He deserves the credit for sending Swedish troops to Bosnia.

Appearances: Although he seems like an inept bureaucrat (the kind you see in British comedies), Bildt has indisputable charisma. Face to face no one is left unimpressed with the speed of his intellect, sense of humor and quick wits.

Negotiating Advantages: Bildt has the reputation of a politician who likes negotiating and does not run away from compromises. Besides his thoroughness and persistence, his greatest advantage in the new mission are his friendships with international politicians. He is said to be better known in Moscow than in Geneva so it's not surprising that he chose to meet with his old friend Andrei Kozyrev before all others. Their friendship dates back from the time when Bildt mediated in negotiations on the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Baltic states and he also helped Kozyrev's election campaign. He is also friends with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Britain's John Major and US President Bill Clinton.

What's Waiting For Him In the New Mission: "... a great ray of sunshine. You have to be or you could not survive that job. Swimming in a cesspit, you have to keep your head up and look at the blue sky. You're surrounded by the depressed and cynical and you never get to bed before 3 a.m." (Lord Owen after resigning as EU mediator).

What Does Bildt Say About the New Mission: "This Mission is the mother of all challenges".