I am very sad to announce that my Personal Assistant, Ms Mirna Maya will leave office as of 8 July 2003. After having worked 2 ½ years for the UNEP/ AEWA Secretariat she decided to resign. As she said she loved to work for the AEWA Secretariat but after working more then 15 years in different Secretarial functions she thinks it is time to change her carrier. She would like to do something complete different. Although she has some ideas Mirna hopes to have more time after leaving the AEWA Secretariat to elaborate her plans.She might return to her home country Mexico or move to another country in Europe.

Anyway I find it a very brave decision to leave a secured job in the United Nations and to go for a new challenge not exactly knowing where you will end. I wish Mirna all the best for the future and would like to thank her for all what she did for the AEWA Secretariat.

Adios Mirna, Bert Lenten Executive Secretary