Following his appointment as Country Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in 1997, Poortman's responsibilities expanded over time to include Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia-Montenegro.
Dupa numirea sa in functia de sef de tara pentru Bosnia si Hertegovina (BH) in 1997, responsabilitatile lui Poortman s-au extins treptat, cuprinzand Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo si Serbia-Muntenegru.