Roza Otunbayeva, a former president and foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan, will replace Deborah Lyons, who stepped down in mid-June, the United Nations said in a statement.

The UN’s statement said that Ms. Otunbayeva holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from Moscow State University and a degree from the Philosophy Faculty of Moscow State University.

She is fluent in Kyrgyz, Russian and English.

“Ms. Otunbayeva has also held several senior diplomatic positions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States of America and Canada (1992-1994) and as Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Kingdom (1997-2002).  From 1989 to 1991, she was President of the Soviet National Commission for UNESCO,” the UN statement said.  

“Ms. Otunbayeva also served with the United Nations as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (2002-2004).  Presently, she is a member of the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation and the Head of the Roza Otunbayeva Initiative Foundation in Kyrgyzstan.” “It (UNAMA) on behalf of the UN participates officially with of the government regarding human rights issues…It can consult with government officials about the issues of human rights. There are some points that the UN creates special missions to monitor some particular policies,” said Niamatullah Bizhan, an international relations’ analyst.

“The UN has not had a vital role in providing peace and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan over the past two decades since now more than 22 million Afghans are starving. Afghanistan still today is burning in war,” said Samad Karmand, an international relations analyst.

“UNAMA is not a political mission, but the mission is to support the people of Afghanistan and help enduring peace and stability in the country,” said Monisa Mubariz, a women’s rights activist.