Lamberto Zannier

Who is Lamberto Zannier?

Lamberto Zannier is an Italian diplomat who currently serves as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Zannier was appointed through a unanimous Ministerial Council decision by the 56 participating OSCE States and took up his post on 1 July 2011.

Previously, from June 2008 to June 2011, Zannier served as the United Nations Special Representative for Kosovo and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, with the rank of UN Undersecretary-General. He was appointed to this position by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in June 2008.

Zannier has served for the Foreign Service of Italy for more than 30 years. Before his appointment as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Kosovo, he played a leading role at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a coordinator for EU Foreign Policy and as a Director for EU Security and Defence issues. Between 2002 and 2006, he was Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna. In this capacity, he managed more than 20 civilian field operations in Europe and Central Asia.