22 May 1997


Press Release
SG/A/636


SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID STAPLETON OF IRELAND AS FORCE COMMANDER OF UNDOF

19970522
Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Major- General David Stapleton as Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with effect 1 June. Major-General Stapleton succeeds Major-General Johannes C. Kosters of the Netherlands, who has served as Commander from January 1995 and will leave his post on 31 May. The Secretary- General takes this opportunity to pay a warm tribute to Major-General Kosters for his distinguished service in UNDOF.

The UNDOF is stationed on the Syrian Golan Heights to supervise the observance of the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces.

Major-General Stapleton has extensive United Nations experience in command and staff appointment in United Nations peace-keeping missions. He served with the United Nations Operation in Congo (ONUC), the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), twice with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). He has also held important positions in the Irish army. Major-General Stapleton has been Quartermaster General, Defences Forces Headquarters since 1995. He is also the deputy to the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.

Major-General Stapleton has attended Staff Colleges both in Ireland and the United Kingdom. He served as an Instructor in the Command and Staff School, Military College for five years.

Major-General Stapleton was born in 1937. He is married and has four children.

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