Atul Khare

Atul Khare (born in 1959) currently serves as the United Nations Special Representative for Timor-Leste and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste(UNMIT). He was appointed to the position by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in December 2006 [United Nations Press Release] .

Khare started his career as an Indian diplomat in 1984. He has served in various capacities in the Indian foreign service, including as Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York and Chargé d’affaires of the Indian Embassy in Senegal with concurrent accreditation to Mali, Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. He was Chef de Cabinet of the Foreign Secretary of India and of Director of the United Nations Division in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi and served as Director of the Nehru Centre and Minister (Culture) of the High Commission of India in London since 2005.

Besides his diplomatic career, Khare also acquired extensive experience in the United Nations. He served as Chief of Staff and later as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General with the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) from June 2002 until its completion in May 2005.

Khare obtained a master’s degrees in business administration and in leadership from the University of Southern Queensland, an advanced diploma (with distinction) in French from the Indian Defence School of Languages, a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (with honours) from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

References

[http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sga1028.doc.htm United Nations Press Release SG/A/1028 ]