In progress at UNHQ

SG/A/630

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS HEADS OF TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS

21 March 1997


Press Release
SG/A/630


SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS HEADS OF TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS

19970321 The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary- General Kofi Annan:

The management reform measures announced by the Secretary-General to the Fifth Committee on 17 March are reflected in a letter he addressed to the President of the General Assembly on that day. The text of the letter is available as document A/51/829. The executive summary of the measures outlined in the letter is available as document A/INF/51/6 and Corr.1.

In line with the decision to establish a single Secretariat department at Headquarters in the economic and social fields, the Secretary-General is announcing today the appointment of Nitin Desai of India -- formerly Under- Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development -- as head of the new department. The title of the department will be announced later.

The Secretary-General is also announcing today the appointment of Jin Yongjian of China -- formerly Under-Secretary-General for Development Support and Management Services -- as head of the new Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conferences Services.

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For information media. Not an official record.