Biographical Note

Following the recommendation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, after consultation with Member States, the General Assembly confirmed Filippo Grandi of Italy as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a further two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, beginning 1 January 2021 and ending 30 June 2023.  While the Secretary‑General had intended to request the General Assembly to elect Mr. Grandi for a further term of five years, Mr. Grandi was agreeable, owing to personal reasons, to the shorter term.  Mr. Grandi is currently serving an initial five‑year term as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The new Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations, Antonio Rodrigue, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the United Nations, Laetitia Courtois, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations, Tarek Ladeb, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Robert Rae, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations, Yoka Brandt, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Mauritania to the United Nations, Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The new Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations, Markova Concepción Jaramillo, presented her credentials to the Secretariat today.

The new Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations, Cristian Espinosa Cañizares, paid a courtesy call on UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.