Senior UN Diplomat due in Banjul

Expected to hold talks with Jammeh 

Opposition Leader says talks should be frank

By Sainey MK Marenah

 

A senior United National diplomat is expected in Banjul Wednesday, diplomatic sources says .  United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will be the second high-ranking UN official to travel to Banjul within one month.

Mr Feltman is expected to meet with President Yahya Jammeh on 5 February were the two are expected to hold discussions on wide range of issues including electoral reforms, human rights and democracy.

Meanwhile, The Leader of Gambia Moral Congress Mai Ahmad Fatty in his regular facebook postings welcomes the Visit of the UN Official.

Mr. Fatty said: “GMC Welcome H. E Jeffrey Feltman, UN under Secretary-General to The Gambia. As we heartily welcome him to the Land of Hospitality tomorrow, we remain hopeful of fruitful deliberations and positive outcomes. Ambassador Feltman oversees UN assistance on elections and electoral reforms to member countries. We shall remain actively in pursuit of far-reaching, comprehensive electoral reforms in coordination with relevant partners. No elections without desirable reforms.”

Who is Diplomat Jeffrey Feltman

As Under-Secretary-General and head of the Department of Political Affairs, Mr Jeffrey Feltman, 56, advises the Secretary-General on peace and security issues globally, while overseeing “good offices” initiatives and field-based political missions carrying out peacemaking, preventive diplomacy and peace-building activities in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

He also oversees the United Nations electoral assistance provided to dozens of its member states each year.

Before joining the United Nations, Mr Feltman served for nearly thirty years in the United States Foreign Service, focused especially on the Middle East and North Africa. His last position was as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, from which he retired at the rank of Career Minister.

Mr Feltman served previously as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon, and held earlier diplomatic postings in Baghdad, Erbil, Jerusalem, Tunis, Tel Aviv, Budapest, and Port-au-Prince, as well as with responsibility for coordinating US assistance to countries of Eastern and Central Europe.

Mr Feltman speaks Arabic, French and Hungarian.