Tehran, February 07, 2006 - Mr. Knut Ostby, the new United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Iran, presented his credentials to the Foreign Minister Mr. Manoochehr Mottaki today.

In his Letter of Credentials, addressed to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan has expressed the confidence that Mr. Ostby's designation will serve to strengthen the collaboration between the Government and the UN system in Iran. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister appreciated the good and long standing cooperation between the UN system and the Government in development and humanitarian activities, and reiterated his Ministry's continued support for the UN's work in the country.

Mr. Ostby, for his part, reaffirmed the UN system's commitment to help the Government and people of Iran towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Mr. Ostby brings over 16 years of experience, knowledge and resources in the area of development, recovery, strategic programme evaluation, and resource mobilization in the UN system. He has held senior positions with UNDP in several countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Maldives, Malaysia, and Denmark and in UNDP Headquarters in New York. Mr. Ostby replaces Mr. Frederick Lyons who served in Iran from 2003 to 2005.