SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW FORCE COMMANDER FOR UNITED NATIONS IRAQ-KUWAIT MISSION

Press Release
SG/A/711
IK/283

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW FORCE COMMANDER FOR UNITED NATIONS IRAQ-KUWAIT MISSION

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Major General John Vize of Ireland as Force Commander of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) with effect from 1 December 1999. He will succeed Major General Esa Tarvainen of Finland, who has served as Force Commander since 1 December 1997 and will be returning to his country’s service. The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to pay tribute to General Tarvainen for his professional and effective leadership of UNIKOM during the last two years.

General Vize joined the Irish Army in 1961 and received his military training at the Military Academy and the War College in Ireland. He has held a number of command and staff appointments, including Commandant of the United Nations Training School, and Deputy Commander of the Defence Forces Training Centre. He currently holds the position of Assistant Chief of Staff (Support) and Director of Logistics of the Irish Armed Forces. He has had previous United Nations peacekeeping experience in Cyprus (1965 and 1970 to 1971), South Lebanon (1979 to 1980 and 1989 to 1990) and Cambodia (1991-1992).

Born in Ireland in 1942, he is married and has six children.

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