NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced the appointment of Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo as the Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.
“I am glad to announce that I have appointed Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo as NATO’s next Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan. Ambassador Pontecorvo will take up his post on 1 June. He brings a long-standing diplomatic experience, including on Afghanistan and the broad regional context,” the NATO chief said in a statement.
Thank you very much for your trust @jensstoltenberg and thanks to @NicholasK111 for your unyielding efforts in support of peace in #Afghanistan. Looking forward to taking up the position as @NATOscr at this important juncture for the country. https://t.co/pfMCknI5Qi
— Stefano Pontecorvo (@pontecorvoste) May 4, 2020
“I look forward to working closely with him at this critical juncture for Afghanistan’s future, where all actors need to come together in the interest of peace and to fight the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
SG @JensStoltenberg appointed 🇮🇹’s Amb Pontecorvo NATO Senior Civilian Rep to 🇦🇫.
His knowledge of the region will be key to preserve the progress achieved in #Afghanistan, a country w/ a long history of friendship with Italy.
Thank you @NicholasK111, good luck @pontecorvoste! pic.twitter.com/0qq1nFXMSI
— Italy at NATO 🇮🇹 (@ItalyatNATO) May 4, 2020
Pontecorvo is an Italian national and has served as Italy’s ambassador to Pakistan. He will replace Nicolas Kay and will take the post on June 1.
Mr. Pontecorvo is taking his position in Afghanistan at a time when the country is going through important area of its history such as peace talks with the Taliban and fighting the covid-19 virus.
The responsibility of NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan involves carrying forward the alliance’s political-military objectives in the country and the region.