United Nations

 NEW YORK, 8 December (UN Headquarters) -- Following is a statement issued today by the Office of the Spokesman of Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

 Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced his intention to appoint Hans Haekkerup of Denmark to replace Dr. Bernard Kouchner as his Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

In a massive international effort to turn war-devastated Kosovo into a functioning democratic society, four international organizations and agencies work together in one operation under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.

Hans Haekkerup currently serves as Minister for Defence of Denmark, a post he has held since January 1993.  Since graduating in 1973 with a Master of Arts and Economics from the University of Copenhagen, Mr. Haekkerup served in a variety of government posts -- as Secretary and Head of Section at the Ministry of Social Affairs (1973-1976), as Head of Section at the Ministry of Education (1976-1977) and Head of Section at the Ministry of Labour (1977-1979).  He was employed as Professor at the Danish School of Administration (1977-1980) and Economist at the Civil Servants Organization (1981-1985).

He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1979 and has held several committee memberships on committees such as the Committee on Danish Security Policy, the Committee on Greenlandic Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Policy.  He was a member of the Defence Committee from 1985 to 1993, and served as Chairman of the Defence Committee from 1991 to 1993.

Hans Haekkerup was born on 3 December 1945 in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen.  He is married to Susanne, with whom he has one son.  He has three sons from his first marriage. 
Mr. Haekkerup is expected to take up his new functions in Pristina in January 2001.