Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert is the new special coordinator for Lebanon. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Newly appointed United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert arrived in Beirut on Saturday, according to a statement released by the United Nations Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL).
Hennis-Plasschaert will serve as the head of mission for UNSCOL. She succeeds Polish diplomat Joanna Wronecka.
"It is an honor to continue my service with the United Nations, here in Beirut," Hennis-Plasschaert said.
"In the interest of peace, security and stability in Lebanon and the wider region during this critical period, I look forward to closely cooperating with the Lebanese authorities and all partners in Lebanon and the international community to further the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006)," she added.
This resolution, adopted to put an end to the July 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, explicitly empowers the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army to operate and maintain peace along the so-called Blue Line, which demarcates the border with Israel. It also provides for Hezbollah to be kept away from the border in exchange for Israel's respect for Lebanese sovereignty.
Hennis-Plasschaert was appointed as the new special coordinator on May 20 by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Prior to her appointment, she was the special representative of the UN secretary-general in Iraq and head of the UN Assistance Mission there since 2018.
Hennis-Plasschaert was also the first woman to hold the position of defense minister in the Netherlands under Prime Minister Mark Rutte from 2012 to 2017.
She also served as a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (2010-12) and as a member of the European Parliament (2004-10).