Biographical Note

The new Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, Paul R. Seger, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, Octavio Errazuriz Guilisasti, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Representative of Malawi to the United Nations, Brian G Bowler, presented his credentials today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The new Permanent Observer for the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to the United Nations, Ufuk Gokcen, presented his letter of appointment today to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of Lisa M. Buttenheim of the United States as his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). She brings to the position extensive experience with the United Nations in the political and peacekeeping areas.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to succeed Yvo de Boer. The appointment has been made after consultations with the Conference of Parties through its Bureau. The Secretary-General is grateful to Mr. de Boer for his dedicated service and tireless efforts on behalf of the climate change agenda.

The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Desmond Parker of Trinidad and Tobago as Chief of Protocol, effective from 1 April 2010.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced today the appointment of Ivan Šimonovic as Assistant Secretary-General to head the New York Office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced today the appointment of Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator and Director of the Partnerships Bureau of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Ms. Kaag will replace Bruce Jenks, who has retired from service after a long and distinguished career with UNDP.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced today the appointment of Heraldo Muñoz of Chile as Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme.