MAJOR-GENERAL PUONTI APPOINTED CHIEF MILITARY OBSERVER IN UNITED NATIONS

MILITARY OBSERVER GROUP IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Major-General Pertti Juhani Puonti of Finland as Chief Military Observer in the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

Major-General Puonti was born in 1948 and has served in the Finnish armed forces since 1968.  He has held several command and staff appointments up to the brigade level.  From 1996 to 2000 he was Commandant of the National Defence Institute.  He is currently the Chief of Staff, Northern Command Headquarters.  He has been decorated Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland and of the White Rose of Finland.

In 1986-1987, Major-General Puonti served as a Military Observer in the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).  In 1992, he was Commanding Officer of the Finnish Construction Battalion in the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). 

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