SECRETARY-GENERAL DELIGHTED AT WILLINGNESS OF KAREN ABUZAYD

 

TO SERVE AS Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA COMMISSIONER-GENERAL

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is delighted that Ms. Karen AbuZayd, who has done an outstanding job in the last five years as Deputy Commissioner-General, and in the last three months as Acting Commissioner-General, of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA), has now agreed to serve a full three-year term as Commissioner-General.  Ms. AbuZayd is already well known to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA staff, to the Palestinian refugee community, and to governments in the region, as well as donors and members of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA’s Advisory Commission.  The Secretary-General believes that under her leadership Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA will carry out its mandate and fully live up to its responsibilities, during a period which, we all hope, will see decisive progress towards lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, based on United Nations resolutions and a negotiated settlement of all outstanding issues, including the refugee problem.

* *** *