Known as a charismatic, persuasive mediator and a champion of humanitarianism, Jan Eliasson is no stranger to the United Nations. He served as Sweden's ambassador to the UN from 1988 to 1992, and became the UN's first-ever under-secretary-general of humanitarian affairs immediately thereafter in 1992.Jan Eliasson is also a veteran of Washington, having been the ambassador of Sweden to the United States from 2000 to 2005, an intensive five-year period of great significance for international affairs. He is succeeded by Gunnar Lund, previously Sweden's ambassador to the European Union and most recently Sweden's Minister for International Economic Affairs and Financial Markets.On September 14-16, 2005, Jan Eliasson will preside over the 2005 World Summit, the largest meeting of world leaders in history, where the reform and future of the United Nations itself will be on the agenda.The general debate of the 60th session of the General Assembly will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from September 17 to September 23 and from September 26 to September 28. The appointment of Jan Eliasson to the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly is not only a testament to his own character and level of achievement, but a tremendous nod to Swedish diplomacy in general. It marks the latest chapter in Sweden's long history of commitment to the United Nations, previously embodied by distinguished Swedish diplomats such as Dag Hammarskjöld, Folke Bernadotte and Hans Blix. Photo: © Pawel Flato