KATHMANDU, Jan 29: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon informed the Security Council Wednesday night that he intends to appoint Karin Landgren of Sweden as his Representative in Nepal and Head of UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN).
Farhan Haq, an officer in the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General in New York, told myrepublica.com that SG Ban also informed the Council of his intention to appoint Joseph Mutaboba of Rwanda in Guinea-Bissau.
NC leader Koirala and then UNMIN Chief Ian Martin hold meeting
Once the Council decides to agree with Ban’s recommendation, Landgren, 51, who has been serving as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal and deputy head of UNMIN since September 2008, will be formally appointed the UNMIN head. [break]
Landgren has had many years of political, managerial, and international law experience with the United Nations.
In her new role as Ban’s Representative, Landgren will head a slightly downsized UNMIN after the departure of the current Special Representative and UNMIN head, Ian Martin, who is officially the UNMIN head until the first week of February.
An adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Landgren has undertaken UN assignments in Eritrea, Singapore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, the Philippines and the Great Lakes region of Africa in various capacities.
While extending UNMIN’s mandate until July 23, the Security Council last week had given clear indication to the government that the UN mission, which was established in January 2007 for one year to support in Nepal’s peace process and the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, will no longer be extended. Since its establishment, UNMIN was headed by Martin all along.