UN activities in Lebanon – Appointment of SecGen Special Envoy – SecGen letter to SecCo

Letter dated 14 November 2005 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council

  I have the honour to refer to paragraph 34 of my report to the Security Council dated 20 July 2000 (S/2000/718), in which I expressed my intention to appoint a senior official to be based in Beirut to help coordinate United Nations activities with regard to southern Lebanon. I also have the honour to refer to my letter to the President of the Security Council dated 29 March 2005 (S/2005/216), in which I expressed my intention to appoint Geir Pedersen as my Personal Representative for southern Lebanon.

  In view of the increased scope of United Nations activities in Lebanon and following an internal review of mandates and relationships among United Nations entities in Lebanon, I have decided to expand Mr. Pedersen’s mandate to include coordination of United Nations political activities for the whole of Lebanon. Accordingly, the title of the post will be changed to Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Lebanon. I have informed the Government of Lebanon of this decision.

  The aim of this decision is to achieve greater coherence and coordination in United Nations activities in Lebanon, and at the same time it enables the various United Nations agencies, funds, programmes and missions to continue to operate effectively under their existing mandates.

  I would appreciate it if this letter were brought to the attention of the members of the Security Council.

(Signed) Kofi A. Annan 

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