New envoy to Afghanistan has rich experience in conflict-affected areas: UN chief

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon said on Thursday that veteran Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura, his newly-appointed special representative for Afghanistan, "brings with him more than three decades of experience with the United Nations in conflict-affected areas including Somalia, the Middle East, the Balkans, Nepal and Afghanistan," according to a UN press statement here.

"In these positions, and under challenging conditions, he has promoted political dialogue, led reconstructions, development and humanitarian assistance efforts, and been involved in overseeing elections," the press release said.

De Mistura will be tasked with leading the world body's efforts in Afghanistan, taking over on March 1 from Kai Eide of Norway, the current special representative of the secretary-general and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA).

A dual citizen of Italy and Sweden, de Mistura has served as deputy executive director for external relations of the Rome-based World Food Program (WFP) since last July.

From 2007 to 2009, he was the secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq ( UNAMI).

De Mistura served in many different capacities under the UN umbrella, which include the UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq from March through August 1997, director of the division of public affairs of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and representative in Somalia for UNICEF.

Also holding positions in the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), de Mistura was a member of the Security Council Panel on Humanitarian Issues in Iraq in 1999.

Ban made the announcement of de Mistura's appointment to the press here on Wednesday, shortly before he left New York for London to attend the international conference on Afghanistan, which opened on Thursday.

"I am grateful for the support from all important stakeholders to this appointment that will help UNAMA extend its role in coordinating the international civilian effort in Afghanistan," Ban told reporters.

De Mistura was born in Stockholm in 1947. He speaks Swedish, Italian, French, German, Spanish and Arabic (colloquial). He is married and has two daughters.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6882445.html.