UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen Resigns

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

United Nations – Geir Pedersen, the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria, has officially announced his resignation after serving nearly seven years in the post. Speaking before the UN Security Council on Thursday, Pedersen said he had informed Secretary-General António Guterres of his decision to step down, which was accepted “graciously.”

“I have decided to move on for personal reasons after more than six and a half years of service,” Pedersen told the Security Council.

Pedersen’s resignation comes in the wake of a dramatic shift in Syria’s political landscape. The ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has raised hopes for a fresh start after more than a decade of devastating conflict.

Appointed in 2019, Pedersen was the fourth envoy tasked with mediating peace in Syria. His mandate focused on promoting dialogue between the Syrian government, opposition factions, and regional powers. For years, negotiations stalled, but Assad’s removal opened what Pedersen called a “new dawn” for the Syrian people.

Syria’s UN Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi commended Pedersen’s efforts, noting that he leaves his post “on a note of hope, on a success story.”
Olabi added that Damascus looks forward to working with Pedersen’s successor “in a way that preserves Syrian sovereignty and fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people.”

The UN Secretary-General is expected to nominate a new envoy soon, as international stakeholders seek to guide Syria toward stability, reconstruction, and lasting peace.

Pedersen will be remembered for his persistence in one of the UN’s toughest diplomatic assignments. His tenure spanned years of deadlock but ended at a pivotal moment when Syria entered a new chapter without Assad.

Despite the immense challenges, his resignation highlights the resilience of Syrians and the ongoing importance of international mediation in shaping the country’s future.

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