UN Names New Special Envoy for Syria
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The United Nations named Staffan de Mistura the new Special Envoy for Syria on Thursday.
Mistura, a 40-year veteran of the U.N. most recently served as president of the board of governors for the European Institute of Peace, an independent foundation that promotes peace and dialogue among members of the European Union. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power welcomed Mistura while noting the challenges he will face immediately in his new position.
“Millions of Syrians experience a brutal daily reality: relentless aerial bombardment; the seige of whole communities’ and the Syrian Government’s continued deliberate prevention of life-saving humanitarian assistance from reaching children, women and men in hard-to-reach areas,” Power said in a written statement.
With that said, Power noted that the U.S. “stands ready to work with” Mistura and hopes to find a “political solution to the Syrian crisis.”
The Syrian Opposition Coalition also released a statement welcoming Mistura’s appointment, stating that they, “look forward to working closely with de Mistura and his team to achieve our joint goal: a political transition to democracy as set out in the Geneva Communique.”
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