SG/SM/8704

                                                            14 May 2003

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY DEATH OF LONG-TIME UN COLLEAGUE MARYAN BAQUEROT

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

The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the sudden death yesterday of Maryan Baquerot, a long-time United Nations colleague.  Mr. Baquerot served most recently as an Executive Director of the World Health Organization, and before that as Director of Administration at the United Nations Office in Geneva.  He was also Chief of Staff and Director of Administration of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, Director of Human Resources for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and served in the Office of Human Resources Management and Controller’s Office in New York.  Whatever the assignment, Mr. Baquerot made important contributions and was highly respected by his colleagues.  The Secretary-General extends condolences to Mr. Baquerot’s wife, daughters and parents, and to all others touched by this loss.

* *** *