13 March 2010 - The recently-appointed Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, arrived in Kabul today to take up his post as top UN official in the country.

UNAMA Photos: Arrival of the SRSG

UN Photos: Archive photos of the SRSG

Biography: English - Dari - Pashto

Mr de Mistura heads the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), which is mandated to promote peace and stability by leading the efforts of the international community in conjunction with the Government of Afghanistan in rebuilding the country and strengthening the foundations of peace and constitutional democracy.

Upon landing at Kabul International Airport, Mr de Mistura told reporters he would continue the UN’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan.

“I am very honoured that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon selected me, with the full support of the United Nations Security Council and in consultation with the highest authorities of Afghanistan, to lead all United Nations activities and programmes in Afghanistan at a verycritical period in Afghan history,” said the new Special Representative.

“The United Nations has been associated with Afghanistan's history and its people for many years. We're involved not only with assisting the political stability of Afghanistan, but also with many other activities in the social and economic sphere,” he added. “Whatever the UN will be doing, will be done to assist both the stability and the socioeconomic improvement of the Afghan people, with total respect for their sovereignty.”

“The Afghan people have suffered a lot and endured many difficult times. They deserve international support, but especially a better future. The United Nations will do its part.”

Before his appointment by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in January 2010, Mr de Mistura served as the Deputy Executive Director at the World Food Programme in Rome.

From 2007 to 2009, he was the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, where, under his leadership, the UN mission helped oversee successful elections, as well as reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance.

He is no stranger to Afghanistan, having served as director of fundraising and external relations for the UN Office of the Coordinator for Afghanistan from 1989 to 1991.

“I was serving in Afghanistan about 20 years ago, another very delicate transition period. I learned and I am familiar with the traditions and culture of Afghanistan. I am totally aware of the fact that the Afghan people are very proud people, very attached to their sovereignty and independence, and I'll be working along those lines,” he said.

Mr de Mistura’s UN career has spanned nearly 40 years and several continents. A dual citizen of Italy and Sweden, he was born in Stockholm in 1947. He is the fifth Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan since 2002, when the UN Security Council authorized the establishment of UNAMA.

BIOGRAPHY

STAFFAN DE MISTURA
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Staffan de Mistura as his Special Representative for Afghanistan in January 2010. Before taking up his current position in Kabul on 13 March 2010, Mr de Mistura served as the Deputy Executive Director at the World Food Programme in Rome.

SRSG de Mistura previously served in Iraq as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative. Under his leadership, his team of 1,000 staff helped oversee successful elections, as well as reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance.

Mr de Mistura began his career in the UN in 1971 as a WFP project officer in Sudan. Over the years he led food aid and relief operations also in Ethiopia, the Balkans and Rwanda. As an emergency relief officer in Chad in 1973, he organized the first-ever UN airdrop operation. He served in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for 14 years until returning to WFP in 1987 as Director of Operations in Sudan. He also served as Director of Fundraising and External Relations of the UN Office of the Coordinator for Afghanistan (1989-1991), and has held a variety of posts with UNICEF including Director of the Division of Public Affairs.

During his 38-year career in the UN, Mr de Mistura’s posts also included Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon and Director of the UN Information Centre in Rome. He also served in Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Somalia and Albania.

A dual citizen of Italy and Sweden, Mr de Mistura was born in Stockholm in 1947. He is a graduate of the University of Rome with a degree in Political Science and Development Economics. He is married with two daughters.