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Lakhdar Brahimi’s Wise And Necessary Decision

Lakhdar Brahimi's decision to focus exclusively on his UN-mandated role in Syria was a difficult but wise one that will bolster his position as an impartial mediator, writes Clovis Maksoud.
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby (L) listens to U.N.-Arab League envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi speak during a news conference at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo March 18, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer  (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3F5HL

Lakhdar Brahimi announced today that he wants to be exclusively the special envoy of the United Nations to Syria and not have the joint role of UN-Arab League envoy to the country. He felt that seating the opposition delegation as the representative of Syria at the Arab League summit in Doha might have compromised his position in the sense that the Arab League is no longer in tune with the mandate that the UN provided. Apparently, Brahimi felt that the seating of the opposition compromised the Arab League component of his mission and minimized his ability to mediate effectively.

Being the UN envoy alone will reinforce the common perception within and outside of Syria that he is an impartial mediator.

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