Biographical Note

The new Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations, Albert Chua, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations, Othman Jerandi, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, Héctor Virgilio Alcántara, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations, Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Martin Kobler of Germany as his Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). He will replace Ad Melkert of the Netherlands who served in Iraq since July 2009. The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Melkert’s leadership of UNAMI in implementing its mandate under Security Council resolution 1770 (2007) and subsequent resolutions.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appointed Albert Gerard (Bert) Koenders of the Netherlands as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI). He will replace Choi Young-jin of the Republic of Korea, who will complete his assignment on 31 August 2011.

The new Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, Meshal Hamad Mohamed Jabr Al-Thani, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Al-Thani joins the United Nations following seven years at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Brussels, Belgium, where he has served as Ambassador since 2007.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Haile Menkerios of South Africa as his Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Major General Abdul Hafiz of Bangladesh as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede Tesfay (Ethiopia) as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Lieutenant General Tesfay will be responsible for discharging the mandate of UNISFA, as contained in Security Council resolution 1990 of 27 June 2011.