DUMITRU MAZILU, OF ROMANIA, ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF UNCITRAL

11 June 1998

Press Release
BIO/3165
L/2869

DUMITRU MAZILU, OF ROMANIA, ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF UNCITRAL

19980611 Biographical Note Dumitru Mazilu, of Romania, has been elected as Chairman of the thirty- first session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), being held at Headquarters from 1 to 12 June.

A former Vice-President of Romania (1989-1990), Mr. Mazilu has served as Romania's representative to UNCITRAL since 1994, as head of its delegation to UNCITRAL negotiations (1997-1998) and as coordinator of UNCITRAL consultations on its decision-making process (1996-1997).

From 1996 to 1997, Mr. Mazilu also served as Vice-Chairman of the Sixth Committee (Legal) of the General Assembly and as Chairman of the Open-Ended Working Group for the fortieth anniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In 1995, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Committee of the Whole of the IAEA General Conference. He was Vice-Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (1995-1997); Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Romania's Ambassador to the international organizations in Vienna, in 1994; and head of the Diplomatic Mission of Romania in Manila (1993-1994).

Before becoming the Vice-President of Romania in 1989, Mr. Mazilu was kept in detention, from 1986 to 1989, for his critical report on human rights in Romania -- made in his capacity as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and youth, a post he held from 1985 to 1992. The International Court of Justice at The Hague judged his case, and through a decision issued in December 1989, asked the Romanian authorities to free him.

Among other positions, Mr. Mazilu served as Chairman of the national subcommission for inquiring into abuses and illegalities (1965-1968); Scientific Director of the Institute of Political Sciences, Bucharest (1970- 1974); legal adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Romania's representative to the Law of the Sea Conference (1975-1986); member of the United Nations Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (1983-1988); President of the Romanian Institute of Human Rights and Youth (1990 to date); Romania's representative on the Sixth Committee (Legal) (1995-1997 and 1978-1985); and member of the General Committee of the IAEA General Conference (1996).

Mr. Mazilu is fluent in English, French, Russian and Italian, and holds a Ph.D. in Law Sciences.

Born in 1934, Mr. Mazilu is married and has one child.

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