SG Announces his Intention to Appoint Martin Kobler as his Special Representative for Iraq
05 August 2011
New York, 5 August 2011 - United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon today announced his intention to appoint Mr. Martin Kobler of Germany as his Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). He will replace Ad Melkert of the Netherlands who served in Iraq since July 2009. The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Melkert’s leadership of UNAMI in implementing its mandate under Security Council resolution 1770 (2007) and subsequent resolutions.
Mr. Kobler has served as Deputy Special Representative (Political) for Afghanistan since March 2010. He brings to the position his vast experience in developing policies for conflict areas with more than 25 years in his country’s Foreign Service. He previously served as Director-General for Culture and Communication in Germany’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was Ambassador to Iraq and Egypt.
Mr. Kobler was Chief of Cabinet to former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer between 2000 and 2003, and Deputy Chief of Cabinet from 1998 to 2000. From 1997 to 1998, he was Deputy Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Balkan Task Force, prior to which he established the German representation with the Palestinian Authority in Jericho.
He has also served as an Electoral Observer with the United Nations missions in Haiti, Nicaragua and Cambodia.
Mr. Kobler holds an advanced law degree and speaks English, French, German, Indonesian and Arabic.
Born in 1953, Mr. Kobler is married and has three children.
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