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UNIS/SG/A/108 |
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Secretary-General Appoints Force Commander, Deputy Force Commander for UN Transitional Administration in East Timor NEW YORK, 29 December (UN Headquarters) -- Following was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan: Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the President of the Security Council of his intention to appoint Major General Jaime de los Santos of the Philippines as Force Commander of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). General de los Santo will be promoted to Lieutenant General for the purpose of this assignment. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also intends to appoint Major General Michael Geoffrey Smith of Australia as Deputy Force Commander. General de los Santos and General Smith are expected to arrive in East Timor in mid-January 2000. General de los Santos joined the Philippine Armed Forces in 1969. He has held a range of command and staff appointments including Brigade Commander, Chief of Staff and Commanding General of an Infantry Division. He is presently serving as the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy. General de los Santos is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and attended the United States Command and General Staff Course. He also holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration. He was born in 1946 and is married. General Smith joined the Australian Armed Forces in 1968. He has held a number of command and staff appointments including Australian Defence Attaché to the Kingdom of Cambodia and Commander of the 3rd Brigade. He served as a military observer with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). He is currently Director-General in the Department of Defence in charge of East Timor. General Smith is a graduate of the Royal Military College in Australia. He has a Bachelor and Master of Arts. He was born in 1950 and is married. * * * * * |
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