UN chief names French diplomat as new peacekeeping head

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced that he intends to appoint Jean-Pierre Lacroix, a French diplomat, as under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations for one year.

Lacroix, 56, will assume the position on April 1, 2017 after his predecessor Herve Ladsous steps down. Lacroix is currently director for the United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France.

Ladsous has been serving as UN peacekeeping chief for six years.

In a statement, Guterres also announced that UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will stay at the post for another year until April 1, 2018.

Feltman, a U.S. diplomat, assumed his position in 2012.

The two posts of under-secretary-general are among the most important and high-ranking UN positions. They have long been held by France and the United States, the two Security Council permanent members.

In the statement, Guterres also announced the establishment of an internal review team to go through the UN peace and security strategy, functioning and architecture.

The team will submit recommendations by June 2017 in order to initiate a process of consultations with member states and take appropriate action to reform UN peace and security sector, according to the statement.

Under such circumstances, Guterres explained that senior officials working in the peace and security pillar should be maintained for another year for their experience and expertise. However, there is one exception for Ladsous who is unavailable for an extension of current mandate. Endit