Nickolay Mladenov

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Not to be confused with Nikola Mladenov.
Nickolai Mladenov
EPP Political Assembly, Nickolay Mladenov (cropped).jpg
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
In office
5 February 2015 – 31 December 2020
Preceded byRobert Serry
Succeeded byTor Wennesland
UN Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq
In office
2 August 2013 – 5 February 2015
Preceded byMartin Kobler
Succeeded byJán Kubiš
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria
In office
27 January 2010 – 13 March 2013
Preceded byRumiana Jeleva
Succeeded byMarin Raykov
Minister of Defence of Bulgaria
In office
27 July 2009 – 27 January 2010
Preceded byNikolai Tsonev
Succeeded byAnyu Angelov
Member of the European Parliament for Bulgaria
In office
2007–2009
Personal details
Born
Nickolay Evtimov Mladenov

(1972-05-05) 5 May 1972 (age 49)
Sofia, Bulgaria
NationalityBulgarian
Political partyGERB
Spouse(s)Gergana Mladenova
Childrendaughter
Alma materUniversity of National and World Economy
King's College London

Nickolai Evtimov Mladenov (Bulgarian: Николай Евтимов Младенов; born 5 May 1972) is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat who served as Bulgaria's Minister of Defense from 27 July 2009 to 27 January 2010 and as the minister of foreign affairs in the government of then prime minister Boyko Borisov from 2010 to 2013. Prior to that, he was a Member of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009.

On 2 August 2013 Mladenov was appointed as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. From 5 February 2015 until 31 December 2020, Mladenov served as UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. When he left that role, he received praise from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.[1]

Mladenov was named in the Pandora Papers but denied wrongdoing.[2]

Early life and education[]

Mladenov was born on 5 May 1972 in Sofia.[3] In 1995, he graduated from the University of National and World Economy, majoring in international relations. The following year he obtained an MA in war studies from King's College London.[citation needed] His father, Evtim Mladenov, worked for the Committee for State Security and his uncle Mladen was an ambassador on behalf of the communist Bulgarian regime.[2]

Career[]

Between 1996 and 1998 Mladenov was program director of the Open Society Foundation in Sofia, followed by an appointment as a program coordinator in the social department of the World Bank for Bulgaria. In 1999 he founded the European Institute in Sofia and was its director until 2001.[4] He was a member of parliament for the United Democratic Forces in the 39th National Assembly, parliamentary secretary (until March 2002), and vice chairman of the committee on European integration and the committee on foreign affairs, defense and security.

On 12 March 2002 Mladenov was elected to the national executive council of the party Union of Democratic Forces. Later he was appointed spokesman of the party. From 22 February 2004 he was the vice-president of UDF, resigning on 16 August 2005.

From 2005 to 2007 Mladenov served as a consultant to the World Bank, International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute in Bulgaria, Afghanistan, Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries. In 2006 he worked as an adviser to parliamentary committees on defense and foreign policy and cooperation of the Iraqi Parliament.

Member of the European Parliament, 2007–2009[]

Mladenov was number 3 on the candidate list of the GERB party for the European elections 2007. As a member of the European Parliament Mladenov was a member of the committees on internal market and consumer protection, foreign affairs, and the subcommittee on security and defence. He was also the first vice chairman of the parliament's delegation for relations with Iraq and member of the delegations to Israel and Afghanistan.

Mladenov is a signatory of the Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism.[5]

Career with the United Nations, 2013–2020[]

On 2 August 2013, Mladenov was appointed as United Nations Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He succeeded Martin Kobler of Germany.[6][7] At the time, the country security had deteriorated as Sunni Islamist groups stepped up an insurgency against the Shi’ite-led government.[8]

On 5 February 2015, Mladenov was appointed United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, replacing Dutch diplomat Robert Serry.[9] As envoy, he caught flak over his bluntness.[10] In 2016, he led efforts of the Quartet on the Middle East on issuing a report on concrete steps that could at least preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.[11]

In late 2018, Mladenov was mentioned in news media as potential successor of Staffan de Mistura as United Nations Special Envoy for Syria.[12]

Mladenov welcomed the Israel–United Arab Emirates peace agreement, adding that it would stop Israel's annexation plans which the UN has repeatedly called for to be stopped and hoped it will restart dialogue between Israel and Palestinians.[13]

In December 2020 the Security Council approved United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’s proposal to appoint Mladenov as the new UN envoy for Libya.[14] However, on December 21st, he withdrew from the position citing "personal and family reasons.[15][16]

Other activities[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Halbfinger, David M. (2 January 2021). "He Calmed Gaza, Aided Israel's Arab Ties and Preserved Hopes for Peace". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b Todorov, Svetoslav (7 October 2021). "Second Bulgarian Politician Exposed in Pandora Papers Denies Claims". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Index Mf-Mn". Rulers. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Профил на Николай Младенов" (in Bulgarian). personi.dir.bg. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Prague Declaration: Selected signatories". Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Secretary-General appoints Nickolay Mladenov of Bulgaria as Special Representative for Iraq". Press release. United Nations. 2 August 2013.
  7. ^ "UN chief appoints Bulgarian official as Special Representative for Iraq". United Nations. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  8. ^ Michelle Nichols (August 2, 2013), U.N. chief names former Bulgarian foreign minister as Iraq envoy Reuters.
  9. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Nickolay Mladenov of Bulgaria as United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process". United Nations.
  10. ^ David M. Halbfinger (January 2, 2021), He Calmed Gaza, Aided Israel’s Arab Ties and Preserved Hopes for Peace New York Times.
  11. ^ David M. Halbfinger (January 2, 2021), He Calmed Gaza, Aided Israel’s Arab Ties and Preserved Hopes for Peace New York Times.
  12. ^ Michelle Nichols (October 17, 2018), U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura to step down at end of November Reuters.
  13. ^ "UN welcomes UAE-Israel agreement". The National. August 14, 2020.
  14. ^ U.N. chief proposes new envoys to mediate Libya, Mideast
  15. ^ Bulgarian diplomat won't take up UN's Libya envoy job
  16. ^ Michelle Nichols (December 22, 2020), U.N. says Mladenov unable to take up role as U.N. Libya envoy Reuters.
  17. ^ Members European Council on Foreign Relations.

External links[]

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
February 2015 – December 2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UN Special Representative for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by 61st Minister of Foreign Affairs
27 January 2010 – 13 March 2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defence
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from ""