New NATO Senior Civilian Representative
in Afghanistan

Appointment of Ambassador Fernando Gentilini

The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador Fernando Gentilini of Italy to the position of NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Gentilini is due to take office mid-July. In the meantime, the acting Senior Civilian Representative continues to be NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations Ambassador Maurits R. Jochems.

Mr. Gentilini has a long and distinguished career in the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including senior positions as the European Union High Representative’s Personal Representative to Kosovo in 2004 and most recently as Deputy Diplomatic Advisor to the Italian Prime Minister since August 2006.

Mr. Gentilini replaces Ambassador Daan Everts who served as NATO’s second Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan from August 2006 to December 2007.

Following Ambassador Everts’ departure in December 2007, Ambassador Maurits R. Jochems ably fulfilled the duties of NATO Senior Civilian Representative in an acting capacity from January 2008.

As Senior Civilian Representative, Mr. Gentilini will be responsible for carrying forward the political-military aspects of the Alliance’s assistance to the Afghan Government.  He will work closely with ISAF, the United Nations and other co-ordinating bodies established by the international community and the Afghan Government in Kabul.

Tel: +32 (0)2 707 50 41 - Fax: +32 (0)2 707 50 57
press@hq.nato.int - http://www.nato.int