United Nations

NEW YORK, 7 December (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General today announced his decision to appoint Rolf Goran Knutsson of Sweden as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Compensation Commission.  Mr. Knutsson succeeds Jean-Claude Aime of Haiti, who is completing his assignment in Geneva.

 The United Nations Compensation Commission was created in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations Security Council.  Its mandate is to process claims and pay compensation for losses and damages suffered as a direct result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait.

 Mr. Knutsson, who was born in December 1942, graduated in 1967 from Sweden's University of Lund with a degree in Political Science, Economics and Languages.  Before joining the United Nations in 1969, he was employed by the Board of Foreign Trade in Stockholm for two years.

 Between 1969 and 1983, his assignments at the United Nations included work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, Ecuador, United Republic of Tanzania, Geneva and New York.  Peacekeeping assignments included missions with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1985, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in Jerusalem (1987-1989), the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) in Honduras (1990-1992), and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in Western Sahara in 1992. 

He has served as Director for Europe and Latin America in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; as Director of Political Affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, and concurrently as Deputy to the Chef de Cabinet.  Most recently, Mr. Knutsson served as Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for southern Lebanon.
 

Mr. Knutsson is expected to assume his new duties in early January 2001, at the level of Assistant Secretary-General.

 Mr. Knutsson is fluent in English, French, Spanish, German and Russian.  He is married and has one son.