19 January 2016, Geneva, Switzerland - It is with great sadness that we learned that our highly respected and beloved colleague, Mr. Jean Gazarian, UNITAR full-time Senior Fellow, passed away yesterday at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, United States.  Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.

Mr. Gazarian joined the United Nations in 1946 as a translator, and during his career worked closely with several Secretaries-Generals.  He was Director of the Division of General Assembly Affairs for 18 years and served in many other capacities.  Even after his retirement, he continued to devote his entire life to teaching diplomats and staff as a full-time Senior Fellow at UNITAR for close to another 20 years. 

In 2013, at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of UNITAR, the United Nations paied tribute to his long and exceptional services to the Organization.

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Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) pays tribute to Mr. Gazarian's long and exceptional services to the United Nations at the occasion of UNITAR's 50th anniversary in 2013. (UN Photo / Amanda Voisard)