Gianni Picco is Consultant and Advisor to Oxford Research Group (ORG). He worked for some 20 years (1973-92) at the United Nations. Gianni Picco led the task force which secured the cease-fire agreement between Iran and Iraq in 1988. From 1988 to 1992, he conducted the operation which led to: the release of 11 western hostages in Lebanon, the recovery of the remains of two more, the identification of some Israeli MIAs in Lebanon, as well as the release of Lebanese citizens that had been detained without due process by Israel. Gianni was also a member of the negotiating team on the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Since 1994, he has been a consultant to private companies on matters of political risks and critical infrastructure protection.