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German professor and political scientist Volker Perthes was nominated Thursday as United Nations Special Representative to Sudan, where he will lead the organization s new mission in that country, according to a statement from the UN.
The 62-year-old, who speaks fluent English and Arabic, was nominated by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres only four months after beginning his post as the senior advisor of Berlin s German Institute for International and Security Affairs in September.
Perthes previously worked for the UN s special envoy to Syria from 2015 to 2016 before taking several teaching positions in Germany and Libya. Mr. Volker Perthes brings to this position over 25 years of experience in academia, research, international relations and diplomacy, including with the United Nations, as well as deep expertise in conflict resolution and regional geopolitics, Guterres said in the statement.
David Shearer: My story, as told to Elisabeth Easther
21 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
10 minutes to read
David Shearer, pictured with his dog Tino, says one of the keys to success in his line of work is not overstaying your welcome. Photo / Dean Purcell
Former MP for Mt Albert and leader of the Labour Party David Shearer is now The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan I had the greatest advantage in life - a fantastic childhood. My father was a primary school principal, and my mother was the secretary at another school. I had a younger brother and sister, we went to church on Sundays, and played cricket in summer and rugby in winter. When I was about 8, some friends who were keen sailors took us out on their boat. On the basis of that, Dad went to night school and built a boat so, as kids, we sailed and sailed. At 16 I also built a boat, but I wasn t allowed to start until I d finished my School Certif