Assad Kotaite (born November 6, 1924), is a former Secretary-General and Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization

International Civil Aviation Organization

The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...

.

Early life

He was born in Hasbaya

Hasbaya

Hasbeya or Hasbeiya is a town in Lebanon, situated about 36 miles to the west of Damascus, at the foot of Mount Hermon, overlooking a deep amphitheatre from which a brook flows to the Hasbani. In 1911, the population was about 5000....

, Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

. In 1948, he graduated from the French University of Beirut. In 1952, he earned a doctorate in law from the University of Paris

University of Paris

The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...

, and continued his education at the university's Institut des hautes études internationales. Furthermore, he graduated from the Hague Academy of International Law

Hague Academy of International Law

The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...

, and was elected as President of the Association of Attendees and Alumni of the Hague Academy of International Law in 1952.

Career

Returning to Lebanon in 1953, he accepted the post of Chief of Legal Services for International Agreements and External Relations at the Lebanese Directorate of Civil Aviation. In 1956, he became Lebanese Representative to the ICAO Council, serving until 1962. From 1963 to 1964, he served as Chief of Administrative Services for the Lebanese Directorate-General of Transport. In 1965, he was reappointed as Lebanese Representative to the ICAO Council serving until his appointment as the fifth Secretary-General of the ICAO in 1970 and served in that post until his appointment as ICAO Council President. From 1976 to 2006, he served as President of the ICAO Council. He was succeeded in that post by Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez. http://www.icao.int/cgi/goto_m.pl?icao/en/nr/2006/index.html