Biographical Note

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan as the new Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). He succeeds Sergei Ordzhonikidze, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for the services he has rendered to the Organization and for his commitment in leading UNOG since 2002.

The new Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations, Noel Nelson Messone, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is pleased to announce the appointment of Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman as Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in New Delhi, India. She will assume her new duties on 1 February 2011.

The new Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, Edita Hrda, today presented her credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, Tekeda Alemu, today presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations, Jaya Nyamrajsingh Meetarbhan, today presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Gana Fofang of Cameroon to serve as his Deputy Special Representative in Guinea-Bissau. Mr. Fofang will also serve as United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Christian Manahl of Austria as his Deputy Special Representative for Somalia. He brings to the position a wealth of experience in conflict prevention and management, governance, rule of law, strategic and contingency planning, institutional cooperation and the mobilization and coordination of assistance.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Major General Chao Liu of China as the Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Karin Landgren ( Sweden) as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB). The Secretary-General is grateful to Charles Petrie for his service to the Organization, and for his commitment in leading the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) at a critical period as Executive Representative.