Indian diplomat named Annan's special advisor

Veteran Indian diplomat Vijay Nambiar has been appointed Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with the rank of Under-Secretary General.

Nambiar, India's deputy national security advisor, will advise Annan on a range of matters and will both follow the issues and represent Annan in the United Nations and elsewhere at a high level, the world body said. At the United Nations, Nambiar will be liaising with permanent representatives. He will also be a member of the policy committee.

A former Indian Foreign Service officer, Nambiar is no stranger to the UN, having been India's Permanent Representative to the world body. He is a well-known and highly respected person in the diplomatic corps.

Annan has also announced that his Chef de Cabinet, Mark Malloch Brown, will be the deputy secretary general from April one when the incumbent Louise Frechette steps down.

"The secretary general decided on the appointment to ensure that his executive office and the United Nations secretariat is able to carry out the full agenda remaining in his term, which ends on December 31," the secretary general's spokesman said.

The present deputy chef de cabinet, Alicia Barcena of Mexico, will be the acting chef de cabinet, it was announced.