New York, February 02, 2010, SPA -- Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General last night appointed, the Philippine's Maj. Gen. Natalio Ecarma as the new Force Commander and Head of Mission of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights which is mandated to supervise the cease-fire between Israel and Syria. Ecarma replaces Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke of Austria, according to a report of the UAE news agency "WAM". The UN Secretary-General expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Wolfgang Jilke and his role as head of the mission. The Security Council has extended the mandate of the mission, which was formed in 1974 to 30 June this year. The mission includes 1, 040 soldiers. --SPA 11:09 LOCAL TIME 08:09 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/744165