Annan names Belgian UN official as new chief of protocol
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Alice Hecht of Belgium, the former head of the Division of Administration of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as his new Chief of Protocol.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Alice Hecht of Belgium, the former head of the Division of Administration of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as his new Chief of Protocol.
She succeeds Aminata Djermakoye of Niger, who will return to the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva.
Ms. Hecht joined the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in 1974, handling projects related to demographic and socio-economic trends in Africa.
Subsequently, her positions included Chief Administrative Officer of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), charged with eliminating Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and of its predecessor organization, the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM).
Mr. Annan’s spokesman praised the outgoing chief for her “very able and dedicated work.” He said she “performed her duties and responsibilities with poise, grace and elegance, combined with a strong commitment to excellence.”