New York - The United Nations on Monday appointed the first woman to command one of the world body's peacekeeping operations.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named Major General Kristin Lund, of Norway, as the force commander for the UN peacekeeping operation in Cyprus. She will replace Major General Chao Liu, of China, on August 13.
“Major General Lund has had a distinguished military career, with over 34 years of military command and staff experience at national and international levels,” Ban said in a statement.
Lund will command 900 troops and police that monitor a 180km buffer zone that has separated Greek and Turkish Cypriots for decades. Turkey invaded Cyprus's north in 1974 after a Greek-inspired coup. It provides political and financial support to a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state there. - Reuters