Norwegian is first woman to head UN peacekeeping force

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UN chief Ban Ki-moon named the first ever woman to serve as the head of a UN peacekeeping operation on Monday, appointing a Norwegian commander to the UN mission in Cyprus.

Major General Kristin Lund of Norway, 56, will replace outgoing Major General Chao Liu of China in mid-August.

Lund, who has 34 years of experience at home and with UN forces, served as deputy commander of the Norwegian Army Forces Command from 2007 to 2009 and chief of staff of the Norwegian Home Guard. She was also involved in UN missions in Lebanon and the former Yugoslavia.

The UN peacekeeping mission for Cyprus, UNFICYP, was established in 1964 to prevent the recurrence of fighting between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

A force of 930 soldiers and 66 police officers patrol the cease-fire lines and buffer zone, undertaking humanitarian activities and supporting the UN mission in general.

The island has been divided since 1974.