Message from the Dean

GSD appointed United Nations Director-General of the UN European Office, Dr Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as its honorary Dean for 2013 for the Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations. Dr. Tokayev’s appointment will begin on 1 January and finish on 31 December 2013.

In accepting the appointment, Dr. Tokayev said “I value highly this recognition of the role of the United Nations in mobilizing future generations for global action”.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is from Kazakhstan and has previously held high appointments there as Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan and, several times, as Foreign Minister. In 1999 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, and, later, Acting Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. He was chosen and appointed Director-General of the United Nations European Office in 2011.

As Dean of GSD, Dr. Tokayev succeeds Ambassador Oğuz Demiralp of Turkey, whose term ended on 31 December 2012.

In welcoming the appointment of Dr. Tokayev, Dr. Colum Murphy, President of the Geneva School of Diplomacy, said “we are delighted that Dr. Tokayev will be joining us! Few things are as important for emerging generations as the underlining of the central importance for them and for the world of the United Nations!” Dr Murphy, himself a long-time former senior UN official, said that Dr. Tokayev’s appointment would be “inspirational”.

As he prepared for his role at the leading university institute, Dr. Tokayev wrote: “Active engagement with the academic and research community is one of my key priorities and I place particular emphasis on raising awareness among youth of the value and importance of the United Nations. I appreciate the opportunity provided to reach out to the student body of the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations”.

* * *

Pictures:

- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré  © 2011