SG/SM/10276
21 December 2005

Secretary-General Accepts, "With Great Regret", Decision of Special Adviser Brahimi to Retire

NEW YORK, 20 December (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has accepted, with great regret, the decision of his Special Adviser, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, to retire at the end of this year after long and highly valuable service to the United Nations.  The Secretary-General extends his deep and abiding gratitude to Mr. Brahimi for his courage, counsel, wisdom and dedication, and hopes to be able to continue to call on his advice.  He wishes Mr. Brahimi an enjoyable and well-earned rest after a series of profoundly challenging assignments, during which he indisputably helped build better lives for millions of people in some of the most troubled regions of the world.

* *** *