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Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette to leave UN in April

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette to leave UN in April

Louise Fréchette
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette, appointed to the newly created post in 1998, will be leaving the United Nations early next year to become Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Canada, the UN spokesman announced today.

Ms. Fréchette, who was Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada from 1995 to 1998 and also served as her country’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 1992 to 1995, will remain at the UN until April to coordinate preparations for Mr. Annan’s plan on implementing comprehensive management reform as requested by last September’s World Summit.

The proposals are due for submission to the General Assembly by the end of February.

“The Secretary-General warmly congratulates Ms. Fréchette on her forthcoming appointment,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “He has always valued her professional support and friendship and looks forward to continuing to work closely with her on the UN reform agenda over the coming months.”

In her new job, Ms. Fréchette will chair a two-year research project on nuclear energy, ranging from political, economic and environmental implications of increased nuclear energy use to the risks of proliferation of nuclear weapons.

“The Secretary-General is particularly pleased to note that she will be devoting her future time and energy to an issue that he regards as critical unfinished business for the UN and the international community,” Mr. Dujarric said.