Adriana Franzin
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Yesterday (17), the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan, invited major general José Elito Carvalho Siqueira, from Brazil, to assume command of the military forces of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

According to a note released by the Brazilian ministries of Foreign Relations and Defense, Annan's choice "confirms the United Nation's regard for Brazil's contribution to the mission."

The note informs that the general has served in the Armed Forces since 1966. He currently holds the post of commander of the 6th Military Region, in Salvador, Bahia. General Siqueira has a master's and doctoral degree in military sciences.

In the note the ministries reiterate Brazil's commitment to solidarity with Haiti and the restoration "of the plenitude of democratic institutions and economic and social development" in that country.

Translation: David Silberstein