Movses Abelian
Movses Abelian | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Diplomat, United Nations official |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management; Coordinator for Multilingualism at the United Nations |
Movses Abelian is an Armenian diplomat who has held the position of Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, as well as Coordinator for Multilingualism within the United Nations Secretariat, starting from 2019.
Education and early career
Abelian received his education across Armenia, Russia, and the United States. Between 1989 and 1992, he served as an associate professor at Yerevan State University before transitioning to a role at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
Diplomatic and international roles
In 1996, Abelian was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations. He then served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative from 1998 until 2003. His leadership roles include chairing the General Assembly's Fifth Committee in 1998, acting as vice-chair of the United Nations Disarmament Commission in 2000, presiding over the Executive Board of UNICEF in 2001, and facilitating UN reform efforts in 2002.
Within the United Nations system, Abelian managed the Security Council Affairs Division from 2011 to 2016. Subsequently, he was appointed Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management. In 2019, he succeeded Catherine Pollard as Under-Secretary-General and was concurrently named Coordinator for Multilingualism.
Personal life
Abelian is married and has two children.