Fed: Downer's chief of staff off to the UN

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2001
Fed: Downer's chief of staff off to the UN

CANBERRA, Dec 11 AAP - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today appointed his chief
of staff Michael Smith to a post at the United Nations to push Australia's interests on
refugees and disarmament.

Mr Smith will take on the role of Ambassador for Disarmament and Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Australia to the United Nations at Geneva.

Mr Downer said Mr Smith would succeed Les Luck who has been Ambassador since March
1999. He is expected to take up his appointment in April 2002.

"Mr Smith will be responsible for a range of UN issues in Geneva, including advancing
Australia's interests in the field of human rights, in part through the pursuit of the
government's diplomatic initiative to reform the UN Treaty Bodies," Mr Downer said in
a statement.

"He will work actively in the Commission on Human Rights to further Australia's interests
in protecting and promoting human rights and good governance internationally."

"Mr Smith will also have responsibility for pursuing Australia's interests on refugee
issues, in particular through engaging constructively in the work of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)."

Mr Downer said Australia was committed to working with the UNHCR in ensuring the international
protection system operated effectively and delivered fair and effective outcomes.

"The 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States have highlighted the need
for concerted international action to address the threat posed by the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including the need to prevent them falling into the
hands of terrorist groups," he said.

Mr Smith would work to ensure the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty remained a central
pillar of the global disarmament and arms control framework.

Mr Smith has been Mr Downer's chief of staff for more than three years.

He is also a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
and has held a number of overseas positions.

These included Ambassador to Egypt (1995-98), Minister (Political) in the Australian
Embassy in Washington (1993-95), Ambassador to Algeria (1989-91) and Counsellor, Australian
Permanent Mission to the UN, Geneva (1986-89).

Mr Smith is a Middle East specialist who speaks Arabic and French. He is married with
two adult children.

AAP daw/ldj

KEYWORD: SMITH

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