Norway’s Major General Kristin Lund was appointed to lead troops in Cyprus.

Kristin Lund, 55, is the first woman woman to command a UN peacekeeping force.

Norway’s Major General Kristin Lund was appointed to lead troops in Cyprus

She has a distinguished military career going back 34 years and including postings in Lebanon and Afghanistan, a UN statement said.

Kristin Lund will replace China’s Major General Chao Liu on August 13.

In Cyprus, Kristin Lund will command 996 soldiers and police officers as well as 149 civilian staff.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the government of Greece.

Since then, the northern third has been mainly inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots.

Kristin Lund’s first overseas mission was in 1986 as transport officer with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

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