Just weeks after US President Barack Obama appointed Irishwoman Samantha Power as his Ambassador to the United Nations, another Irish citizen has been given a major role within the organization.
Major General Michael Finn has been named Head of Mission and Chief of Staff of the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) by Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.
But who is Maj Gen Finn and what does his new role entail?
Experience
The 60-year-old native of Claremorris, who replaces Major General Juha Kilpia of Finland in the role, has extensive peacekeeping experience.
In 2003 and 2004 he served in Kosovo as commander of the Irish infantry force in the Nato-led KFOR mission.
Between 2007 and 2010, Major General Finn was the Director of Logistics in the European Union Military Staff in Brussels, where he was responsible for planning logistics for the deployment of EU military and civilian personnel to the war torn African nations of Chad and Central African Republic.
Upon completing that portfolio he became General Officer commanding the Second Infantry.
He has also served in the Lebanon and for the UNTSO in Syria's Golan Heights and South Lebanon.
UNTSO
Finn's experience in that region is vital as he takes up his new role. The UNTSO was the United Nations' first ever peacekeeping operation and was set up in 1948 to help peacekeepers observe and maintain ceasefires in the volatile Middle East.
The early period of its existence saw the UNTSO attemtping to keep the peace between Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
Finn will be based at the mission headquarters at Government House in Jerusalem. With the region often a powder keg of tension, Finn and the members of UNTSO will act as go-betweens to reduce friction between the conflicting parties, while attached to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
There have been flashpoints along the Golan Heights over the past 12 months, mostly related to the Civil War in Syria. A number of incidents have seen UN Peacekeepers taken hostage by rebel groups along the border between Syria and Israel, with all released unharmed after negotiations.
