UNSG appoints Mladenov as replacement for Kobler

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Mr. Nickolay Mladenov of Bulgaria as his Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Mr. Mladenov will replace Mr. Martin Kobler of Germany to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service and excellent leadership of UNAMI.

UN Spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said “Mr. Mladenov brings to his new position extensive experience from a distinguished career in public service. As Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria from February 2010 to March 2013, he led his country’s diplomatic engagement with a large number of partners, including in the Middle East.”

“He served as Minister of Defense of Bulgaria (July 2009-January 2010) and as a Member of the European Parliament, including its Foreign Affairs Committee and the Delegation for Iraq (May 2007-June 2009). He was also a Member of the Parliament of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005,” he added.

“Mr. Mladenov has held several positions in the inter-governmental and non-governmental sectors, including at the World Bank, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republic Institute,” UN Spokesperson pointed out.

“Mr. Mladenov earned a Master of Arts in War Studies at the King’s College of London, and a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in international relations at the University of National and World Economy of Sofia, in Bulgaria,” according to him.