UN Syria envoy opens door to resolving 8½-year war
The establishment of a constitutional committee is a big step, but UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen knows he is just getting started.
This is a special edition of the Week in Review.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Geir Pedersen, who was appointed special envoy for Syria in October 2018.
Pedersen is one of those world-class diplomats who doesn’t seek the limelight but often ends up in it because of his reputation and record. He served as Norway’s ambassador to China and its permanent representative to the United Nations, as well as the Norwegian representative to the Palestinian Authority. He was a member of Norway’s team to the Oslo talks between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. At the United Nations, he has been special coordinator for Lebanon and personal representative of the secretary-general for southern Lebanon.
Last year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed him special envoy for Syria.
