new UN envoy to Lebanon

Secretary-General to appoint new UN envoy for Lebanon

10 April 2008 –Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Johan Verbeke of Belgium as the new United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon.

Since September 2004, Mr. Verbeke has been Belgium's Ambassador to the UN, and, in this capacity, he has served on the Security Council and on the Peacebuilding Commission.

He would replace Geir Pedersen of Norway as the senior official coordinating the UN's work in Lebanon.