Secretary-General Appoints Head of Fact-finding Mission

 

on Alleged Chemical-weapons Use in Syria

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Professor Ǻke Sellström of Sweden to head the United Nations fact-finding mission which will investigate allegations of the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Mr. Sellström is currently a project manager at a research institute in Sweden, the “European Center for Advanced Studies of Societal Security and Vulnerability, in particular major incidents with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Substances”.

An accomplished scientist with a solid background in disarmament and international security, he has taught at universities in the United States and served as Director at the Swedish Defence and Security Research Institute.

Mr. Sellström served as a Chief Inspector with the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) and as Senior Adviser to the Chairmen of UNSCOM and the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) for the disarmament of Iraq.

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