SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS ANGELA KANE OF GERMANY AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS ANGELA KANE OF GERMANY AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL

FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS

The Secretary-General announced today the appointment of Angela Kane of Germany as Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

Since 1 May 2004 she has been serving as Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management.  She was responsible for all operational activities related to conference management at United Nations Headquarters.  A major focus of her work was the implementation of reform initiatives, integrated global management, the use of information technology tools, and the repositioning of the Department as a proactive and efficient service provider.

Previously, she served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) where she accompanied political initiatives in support of the peace process.  From 1999 to 2003, she held the position of Director of the Americas and Europe Division in the Department of Political Affairs where her responsibilities included assessing political developments in the 89 countries of the Western Hemisphere.

From 1995 to 1999, Ms. Kane held a managerial post in the Department of Public Information where she was in charge of publications and the United Nations publishing policy and oversaw global marketing and sales and information resources.  She initiated the United Nations move into online publishing and was responsible for the development of the United Nations home page at www.un.org, in all official languages.

Ms. Kane’s previous United Nations experience included a four-year assignment in the office of former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali as Principal Officer for political affairs.  In 1990-1991, she assisted the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central American Peace Process with the negotiations to end the conflict in El Salvador.  In the late 1980s, she was responsible for disarmament issues and the World Disarmament Campaign.  She also served as election monitor in Nicaragua and El Salvador.  Her initial political experience was gained in the cabinet of former Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim where she served as a junior officer.

Her field experience also includes postings in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Bangkok, Thailand, where she gained experience in development issues.  She has been a United Nations staff member since 1977.

Prior to joining the Organization, Ms. Kane, worked for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and for private industry in Europe.  She attended university in Munich, Germany, and holds degrees from Bryn Mawr College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.  Ms. Kane is married.

* *** *

__________

*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/869-BIO/3561 dated 4 March 2004.

For information media • not an official record