NEW YORK — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres this week announced the appointment of Movses Abelian of Armenia (as well as a national of Georgia), as the next under-secretary-general for General Assembly and Conference Management.
He will succeed Catherine Pollard of Guyana, who has been appointed as the under-secretary-general for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance.
Abelian is currently assistant secretary-general for General Assembly and Conference Management. Prior to assuming this position in 2016, he was director of the Security Council Affairs Division in the Department of Political Affairs.
He has more than 25 years of experience in conference and management affairs, coupled with experience in peace and security issues, conflict resolution as well as extensive expertise leading, supporting and managing complex portfolios and intergovernmental processes in the United Nations system.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Abelian was the ambassador and permanent representative of Armenia to the United Nations (1998-2003) and Deputy Permanent Representative (1996 to 1998). Prior to joining the Foreign Service of Armenia in 1992, Abelian worked in academia as an Associate Professor at Yerevan State University.
Abelian was educated in Armenia, the Russian Federation and the United States. He is married and has two children.
