Office of the President of the Republic Press Release - The Timorese Head of State, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta welcomed today in his office, at the Presidential Palace Nicolau Lobato, in Díli the new UN SRSG Mme. Ameerah Haq, for the first official meeting that lasted about one hour.
H.E. the Special Representative to Timor-Leste of the UN Secretary-Geral, Ban Ki-moon, replaces in these high functions Dr. Atul Khare, who finished his mandate in the end of 2009.
“Welcome, we are very pleased to work with you”, said in the occasion the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, before a group of journalist.
“I am most delighted to be in Timor-Leste. My meeting with H.E. the President was very constructive. It is my personal honor, because Dr. Ramos-Horta, a Peace Prize Laureate, has a tremendous leadership”, stated Mme.Haq after the meeting, speaking to the journalists.
The SRSG added that she was informed about “the vision and plans – of the Timorese President of the Republic – for the development and the future of Timor-Leste”.
“I’m looking forward to precede the work of my predecessor”, Dr. Atul Khare, said Mme. Haq.
She is considered to bring to the Mission extensive management and operational experience, particularly at the senior level.
Haq most recently served as Deputy Special Representative of Mr. Ban Ki-moon for Sudan, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan (2007-2009).
Before that, she served as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan (2004-2007).
Mme. Ameerah Haq's broad management experience in supporting complex mission deployment activities will greatly contribute to her new role at UNMIT, according to a press release.
She was formerly the Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery at United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Headquarters in New York.
The new SRSG to Timor-Leste served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Malaysia from 1994 to 1997 and in the same capacity in Laos from 1991 to 1994.
Mme. Haq worked in the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at UNDP Headquarters in various capacities from 1980-1990, which included responsibilities for aid coordination mechanisms and as Desk Officer for Thailand, Myanmar and Bhutan.
She also had an assignment with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) from 1985 to 1987.
She started her career in 1976 as a Junior Professional Officer in Jakarta, Indonesia and was transferred to Afghanistan as Assistant Resident Representative in 1978.
Haq obtained master's degrees in community organization and planning, and in business administration from Columbia University and New York University respectively. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at Western College in Oxford, Ohio.
PPR - Dili, 06.JAN-10
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Presidency of the Republic
Dr. José H. Meirelles
Int. Relations/Media Senior Adviser
Nicolau Lobato Palace
Aitarak-Lara, Díli, Timor-Leste
PBX : +670-333-9999/ext. 242 Mobile: +670-751-6413
No comments:
Post a Comment