PRISTINA - Jennifer Brush, former Director of the Office of South Central European Affairs at the US Department of State, has been appointed as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo.

The decision to appoint Brush was announced by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday, UNMIK said in a statement.

Brush succeeded Robert Sorenson of the United States on September 1, the statement said. The UN Secretary-General said that he is grateful to Sorenson for his contribution to UNMIK.

Brush has "extensive knowledge and experience in international and regional conflict resolution and in Western Balkans affairs," UNMIK said in the statement.

"Previously, Ms. Brush served as the Head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Moldova from 2012 to 2014. She has served for more than 25 years in the United States Department of State, including postings in the Western Balkans, Poland, Turkey, Marshall Islands and Turkmenistan", the statement also said.

Brush was deputy head of the US diplomatic mission to Serbia until 2010 and was also appointed Charge d' Affaires following the departure of Ambassador Cameron Munter.