After receiving a Master's degree in journalism from Sofia University in 1983, Mr.
Tafrov worked until 1987 as a staff writer for the weekly newspaper ABV, in Sofia.
Prior to his UN appointment, Mr.
Tafrov was his country's Ambassador to France.
He also served as the permanent delegate of Bulgaria to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
From 1991 to 1997, he held a number of diplomatic posts, serving two separate terms as the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of his country, and also as Ambassador to Italy and the United Kingdom.
From 1989 to 1991, he worked as head of the foreign desk of the daily newspaper Democratzia, in Sofia, Bulgaria.