Minister Named To Head UN’s Economic Commission

Slovak Foreign Minister Named To Head UN’s Economic Commission For Europe

New York, Dec 18 2008 3:10PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Slovakia’s Foreign Minister, Ján Kubiš, as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which promotes dialogue and cooperation among 56 nations on a range of issues, including economic integration, energy, environment and trade.

Mr. Kubiš, who replaces Marek Belka of Poland, will take up his post in the middle of January 2009, a spokesperson for the world body announced today.

The new Executive Secretary-General has served as his country’s Foreign Minister since 2006 and held the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Prior to that, he was Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Mr. Kubiš has also served as the European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia from 2005 to 2006, as well as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) from 1998 to 1999.

ENDS

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