UN political affairs official named deputy envoy to Nepal

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed a senior United Nations political officer as his Deputy Special Representative for Nepal and deputy head of the UN mission in that country (UNMIN), his spokesperson announced today.

Tamrat Samuel of Eritrea has served with the world body since 1983, most recently as Senior Political Affairs Officer responsible for the South Asia region within the Department for Political Affairs, spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

His efforts in that capacity were focused primarily on UN efforts to help resolve the conflict in Nepal, which has emerged from a 10-year civil war.

“He was closely involved in the conceptualization and operationalization of the current UN role in support of the Nepalese peace process, which is being implemented by UNMIN under the leadership of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ian Martin,” Ms. Montas said.

UNMIN is a special political mission established by the Security Council in January to assist with the follow-up to the landmark Nepalese peace deal, reached in November 2006 between the Government and the Maoists, and also to support this year’s planned elections in the Himalayan country.