Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, recently appointed as the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, arrived in Beirut today to assume her new role. She will serve as the head of the UN Special Coordinator's Office in Lebanon (UNSCOL). Upon her arrival, the new Special Coordinator expressed her honor in continuing to represent the United Nations through her position in Beirut, stating: "In order to serve peace, security, and stability in Lebanon and the region during this critical period, I look forward to close cooperation with the Lebanese authorities and all partners in Lebanon and the international community to enhance the implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006)."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced Hennis-Plasschaert's appointment on May 20, following her role as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Iraq and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for several years (2018-2024). According to a statement, Hennis-Plasschaert has over 25 years of experience in diplomacy, international security, and Middle Eastern affairs. Before joining the UN, she served as the Minister of Defence in the Netherlands (2012-2017). She was also a member of the Dutch House of Representatives (2010-2012) and the European Parliament (2004-2010). Additionally, Hennis-Plasschaert worked with the European Commission in Belgium and Latvia, as well as in Amsterdam and the private sector.
