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| Syrian crisis: UN announces Lakhdar Brahimi as new envoy | Syrian crisis: UN announces Lakhdar Brahimi as new envoy |
| (4 months later) | |
| The United Nations has confirmed that Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi will replace Kofi Annan as peace envoy to Syria. UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey announced on Friday that the former Algerian foreign minister and longtime UN official would succeed Annan as joint UN-Arab League envoy. | The United Nations has confirmed that Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi will replace Kofi Annan as peace envoy to Syria. UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey announced on Friday that the former Algerian foreign minister and longtime UN official would succeed Annan as joint UN-Arab League envoy. |
| Brahimi, 78,k has worked in several high-profile positions at the UN, gaining a reputation as a tough, independent negotiator in is work as envoy to Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti. He helped negotiate the end of Lebanon's civil war. Brahimi is a member of the Elders, a group of former world leaders working for global peace. | Brahimi, 78,k has worked in several high-profile positions at the UN, gaining a reputation as a tough, independent negotiator in is work as envoy to Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti. He helped negotiate the end of Lebanon's civil war. Brahimi is a member of the Elders, a group of former world leaders working for global peace. |
| Annan announced his resignation this month after failing to achieve a temporary ceasefire during a six-month tenure. | Annan announced his resignation this month after failing to achieve a temporary ceasefire during a six-month tenure. |
| Meanwhile on Friday, Russia cancelled a hastily called meeting of key nations and international organisations which it had hoped would issue an appeal to the Syrian government and opposition to end the 19-month conflict and start political talks. | Meanwhile on Friday, Russia cancelled a hastily called meeting of key nations and international organisations which it had hoped would issue an appeal to the Syrian government and opposition to end the 19-month conflict and start political talks. |
| Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, surprised the UN security council, which is bitterly divided over Syria, with the announcement on Thursday of the planned meeting. The initiative came after the security council decided to end the UN military observer mission in Syria and back a small new liaison office to support any future peace efforts. | Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, surprised the UN security council, which is bitterly divided over Syria, with the announcement on Thursday of the planned meeting. The initiative came after the security council decided to end the UN military observer mission in Syria and back a small new liaison office to support any future peace efforts. |
| Russia and China have vetoed three western-backed security council resolutions that would have stepped up pressure on the Syrian government. The antagonism, especially between Russia and the US and key European nations, has intensified with each vetoed resolution. | Russia and China have vetoed three western-backed security council resolutions that would have stepped up pressure on the Syrian government. The antagonism, especially between Russia and the US and key European nations, has intensified with each vetoed resolution. |
| UN diplomats said Churkin's announcement that Russia was calling for a meeting of countries that agreed on guidelines for a Syrian-led political transition in Geneva in June looked like a political move to put Moscow in the driver's seat while sidestepping the security council. | UN diplomats said Churkin's announcement that Russia was calling for a meeting of countries that agreed on guidelines for a Syrian-led political transition in Geneva in June looked like a political move to put Moscow in the driver's seat while sidestepping the security council. |
| Russia's UN mission said Friday's meeting was cancelled at the request of some members of the Action Group for Syria, which includes the UN and Arab League chiefs, the five permanent security council nations (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain), Turkey, the European Union, and Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. | Russia's UN mission said Friday's meeting was cancelled at the request of some members of the Action Group for Syria, which includes the UN and Arab League chiefs, the five permanent security council nations (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain), Turkey, the European Union, and Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. |
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