UNMIT Announces Appointment of Acting UN Police Commissioner
2 September 2006, DILI— Police Advisor Antero Lopes has been designated Acting Police Commissioner for United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
Mr. Lopes joined the mission in mid-August. He had previously assisted in the planning of the police component of the new Mission as a member of the assessment mission led by Special Envoy Ian Martin in June of this year.
His deployment with UNMIT during this transitional period will facilitate discussions with the Timorese Government on policing matters as well as the smooth implementation of the recommendations on the establishment of the police component as set out in the Secretary-General's recommendations in his report submitted to the Security Council on 8 August 2006 including, among other things, to ensure the restoration and maintenance of public security through the provision of support to the Timorese national police (PNTL).
Mr. Lopes has been performing duties as Deputy Police Advisor and Head of Operations Support, at the Police Division, in UN headquarters in New York, a Division he helped to establish nearly six years ago.
From 1993 to 1995 Mr. Lopes served as a Regional Commander and Chief of Operations in the ex-Yugoslavia where he was also co-founder of the project that lead to the Human Rights Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He has been instrumental in conducting assessment missions, coordinating planning and working in support of police operations in Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Kosovo, Afghanistan and other.
While in Portugal, Mr. Lopes served in operational command and headquarters duties which included anti-crime, strategic planning, institutional reform, etc. having also staged in special police forces in the areas of crowd control, anti-terrorism, protective operations, traffic and criminal investigation.
In 2000, Mr. Lopes held the post of Deputy Police Commissioner in United Nations Transitional Administration Mission in East Timor (UNTAET) following positions as Police Spokesperson and First Special Assistant.
"I am pleased to have on board a UN Police Commissioner of the caliber of Antero Lopes, not just because of his high competence level, but because I know that the Timorese people will benefit from his experience in capacity-building and in helping to reconstitute a national police force that will ensure service to the population is a priority," Special Representative for the Secretary-General for Timor-Leste Sukehiro Hasegawa said. "I have all the confidence in him to carry out the challenging mandate of UNMIT," he said.
In a recent interview, Mr. Lopes said "I've been here before and I am acquainted with the reality of Timor-Leste. Our job is to serve and protect the interests of the population of Timor-Leste."
Mr. Lopes holds several post-graduate degrees in Police Sciences, International Strategic Studies, International Relations, and Justice and Internal Affairs. He also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
For additional information, please contact:
Donna Cusumano, Chief, Public Information Office, UNMIT; +670 723 0749