SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS RAUF ENGIN SOYSAL OF TURKEY

AS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Rauf Engin Soysal of Turkey as Special Envoy for Assistance to Pakistan.

The Secretary-General is grateful to Mr. Jean Maurice Ripert for the important contribution he made over the past year in mobilizing assistance to IDPs in the north of Pakistan and the emergency phase of the flood situation in the country.

Ambassador Rauf Engin Soysal brings to this position extensive experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy and in depth knowledge of the region. Mr. Soysal holds the position of Deputy Undersecretary for Bilateral Political Affairs responsible for the Middle East, South Asia and Africa. He is also Turkish representative on the group of Special Representatives (SRAP) for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Prior to his current assignment, Ambassador Soysal served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan between January 2007 to July 2009.