UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (Xinhua) -- French diplomat Alain Le Roy has been appointed as the new head of UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), UN spokesperson Michele Montas said Monday.

　　Le Roy will succeed Jean-Marie Guehenno, who also hails from France and has held the post since October 2000.

　　In a statement announcing the appointment, UN chief Ban Ki-moon thanked Guehenno for his "dedicated service" to the DPKO and "important contribution to the achievement of its goals."

　　The secretary-general "recalled the strong sense of commitment and professionalism shown consistently by Mr. Guehenno to the fulfillment of his responsibilities," Montas said.

　　As the new undersecretary-general for peacekeeping operations, Le Roy "brings to the job an extensive experience in public administration, management and international affairs, both at the political level and in the field," Montas said.

　　Roy has served since September last year as ambassador in charge of the Union for the Mediterranean Initiative -- a proposed community of European Union member States and countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea which is set to be established next month.

　　After serving as EU special representative in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, he was appointed assistant secretary for economic and financial affairs in the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, before serving as the French ambassador to Madagascar.