SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘VERY PLEASED’ AT APPOINTMENT OF OLUYEMI ADENIJI

AS FOREIGN MINISTER OF NIGERIA

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

The Secretary-General was very pleased to receive news about the appointment of Oluyemi Adeniji as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.  Until his appointment, Mr. Adeniji had served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone since December 1999.  The Secretary-General congratulates Mr. Adeniji wholeheartedly on his important new functions and wishes to thank him for the effective leadership he provided to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

Under Mr. Adeniji’s stewardship, UNAMSIL recovered from the crisis of May 2000.  The Mission supported the massive disarmament exercise, as well as national elections in Sierra Leone, and facilitated the restoration of the Government’s authority throughout the territory of Sierra Leone.  As Mr. Adeniji departs, UNAMSIL, as well as the whole United Nations family, will continue to assist the people of Sierra Leone to consolidate peace in their country.

Pending the appointment of Mr. Adeniji’s successor, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Alan Doss, will serve as Officer-in-Charge of UNAMSIL.

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