United Nations General Assembly President Appointed Foreign Minister of Sweden

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for General Assembly President Jan Eliasson ( Sweden):

The President of the General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, has today, 27 March, been appointed Foreign Minister of Sweden by Prime Minister Göran Persson.  Mr. Eliasson will formally take office on 24 April.

Mr. Eliasson will continue his work in his position as President of the General Assembly.  He will be based in New York and return to Stockholm on a regular basis.  To assist Mr. Eliasson, Prime Minister Persson has today appointed a Deputy Foreign Minister, the current Minister for Development Cooperation, Ms. Carin Jämtin.

President Eliasson will continue to work with the same commitment and energy to implement the United Nations reform agenda.  He is returning to New York tomorrow, as planned.

Many previous Presidents of the General Assembly have also served concurrently as Foreign Minister, including Mr. Eliasson’s predecessor, Jean Ping of Gabon.

The President has informed the Secretary-General of his appointment.

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For information media • not an official record