The chief of protocol of the United Nations is the head of the Protocol and Liaison Service of the United Nations Secretariat, the office responsible for diplomatic protocol at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
The chief of protocol is appointed by the secretary-general and holds the rank of director in the secretariat. The chief serves the protocol needs of the secretary-general, the deputy secretary-general and the president of the United Nations General Assembly, and acts as the principal liaison between the secretariat and the permanent missions and observer offices accredited to the organization. The office arranges the presentation of credentials by new permanent representatives, accredits the diplomatic staff of missions, assists with visits by heads of state and government, coordinates the ceremonial side of the annual General Assembly high-level week, and publishes the Permanent Missions to the United Nations directory, known as the "Blue Book".
The post has existed since the establishment of the secretariat in 1946. Since 1 July 2019 it has been held by Beatrix Kania of Germany.
History The position of chief of protocol was created when the Secretariat of the United Nations was established in 1946. The first chief of protocol, Jean de Noue of France, was appointed in March 1946 by the first Secretary-General of the United Nations, Trygve Lie.
For most of its history, the position has been filled by career diplomats seconded by member states. While the chief of protocol is considered to be of equivalent standing to a Director (D-1) under the International Civil Service Commission, Aly Teymour of Egypt was appointed as chief of protocol at the rank of Assistant Secretary-General.
Several former chiefs of protocol have gone on to prominent diplomatic careers. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, chief of protocol under Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1994–95, later became foreign minister of Austria and European Commissioner for External Relations. Yoon Yeocheol of South Korea, chief of protocol under Ban Ki-moon from 2012 to 2014, subsequently served as protocol secretary to the South Korean president and as ambassador to Egypt and the United Kingdom.
Nadia Younes of Egypt, chief of protocol from 1998 to 2002, was killed in the Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad in August 2003 while serving as chief of staff to Sérgio Vieira de Mello.
Three nationals of Belgium have been appointed as chiefs of protocol, more than any other member state.
Chiefs of Protocol No. Name Country Took office Left office Notes 1 Jean de Noue March 1946 1962 2 Pierre de Meulemeester April 1962 1968 3 Sinan A. Korle 1 August 1968 1977 4 Pedro de Churruca 6 June 1977 1979 5 Aly I. Teymour 16 October 1979 1994 Held the rank of Assistant Secretary-General 6 Benita Ferrero-Waldner 1 March 1994 1995 Later Foreign Minister of Austria and European Commissioner for External Relations 7 Livio Muzi-Falconi 15 June 1995 1998 8 Nadia Younes 19 January 1998 2002 Killed in the Canal Hotel bombing, Baghdad, 2003 9 Aminata S. Djermakoye 1 November 2002 2006 10 Alice Hecht 14 January 2006 2010 11 Desmond Parker 1 April 2010 2012 12 Yoon Yeocheol 8 March 2012 13 October 2014 13 Peter Van Laere 19 March 2015 31 March 2019 14 Beatrix Kania 1 July 2019 Incumbent Source unless otherwise noted: United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service.
See also Chief of protocol Chief of Protocol of the United States Permanent representative to the United Nations United Nations Secretariat
References
External links Protocol and Liaison Service – official website