Lamberto Zannier | |
---|---|
Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe |
|
Assumed office 1 July 2011 |
|
Preceded by | Marc Perrin de Brichambaut |
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo | |
In office 20 June 2008 – 30 June 2011 |
|
Preceded by | Joachim Rücker |
Succeeded by | Farid Zarif |
Personal details | |
Born |
Fagagna, Italy |
15 June 1954
Lamberto Zannier (born 15 June 1954 in Fagagna) is an Italian diplomat who currently serves as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Zannier was appointed through a unanimous Ministerial Council decision by the 56 participating OSCE States and took up his post on 1 July 2011.
Previously, from June 2008 to June 2011, Zannier served as the United Nations Special Representative for Kosovo and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with the rank of UN Undersecretary-General. He was appointed to this position by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in June 2008.
Zannier has served for the Foreign Service of Italy for more than 30 years. Before his appointment as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Kosovo, he played a leading role at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a coordinator for EU Foreign Policy and as a Director for EU Security and Defence issues. Between 2002 and 2006, he was Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna. In this capacity, he managed more than 20 civilian field operations in Europe and Central Asia.
From 2000 to 2002, he served as Permanent Representative of Italy to the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague. From 1997 to 2000, he was chairperson of the negotiations on the adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. From 1991 to 1997, he served as Head of Disarmament, Arms Control and Cooperative Security at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Previously, he served in Rome, Abu Dhabi and Vienna, mainly specialising in multilateral and security affairs. He has authored several publications on security, conflict prevention and crisis management issues. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the Centre for International Negotiation and mediation of the Gorizia University. He routinely holds lessons and conferences on international relations and international security.