Kosovo: Ban appoints envoy to head UN mission

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Farid Zarif of Afghanistan as his Special Representative for Kosovo and head of the United Nations mission there.

Mr. Zarif succeeds Lamberto Zannier of Italy, who led the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) until June.

He brings to the position extensive experience in diplomatic, international and UN affairs, having served in various capacities inside and outside Afghanistan, including as the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN from 1981 to 1987. He was also Deputy Foreign Minister from 1987 to 1989 and Presidential Adviser on International Affairs from 1989 to 1991.

Mr. Zarif joined the UN in 1993 and has since served at UN Headquarters, as well as in UN political, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Eritrea, Liberia, South Africa, Iraq and Sudan.

He was appointed as Director of Europe and Latin America Division in the Office of Operations of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) last year, and has served as the Secretary-General’s Acting Special Representative in Kosovo since August.

Today, Mr. Ban also appointed Aisa Kirabo Kacyira of Rwanda as the deputy head of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) to succeed Inga Björk-Klevby.

Ms. Kirabo, will serve as Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General, assisting the UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Joan Clos, in the programme’s overall management.