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Brahimi's 'mission impossible' in Syria

Agence France-PresseMay 4, 2013 22:15
Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, has insisted throughout his career that there is no "hopeless situation", but he has not managed to find a magical solution to end Syria's civil war. And the 79-year-old Brahimi, who took on the job last August after predecessor and former UN chief Kofi Annan threw in the towel, is now ready to give up too.

Brahimi unlikely to quit Syria post before mid-May

Agence France-PresseMay 2, 2013 19:31
UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is thinking about stepping down as the Syrian war becomes more intractable, but is likely to stay on until at least mid-May, a senior aide said on Thursday. UN and Arab diplomats said on Wednesday the veteran envoy was on the verge of quitting over his frustration with international divisions over Syria and the increased militarisation of the conflict, partly due to Arab states' support of the rebels.

Syria accuses U.N. envoy Brahimi of interfering

April 24, 2013 13:15
By Dominic Evans BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria accused international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Wednesday of bias and interference after he criticised its response to an opposition offer of talks and suggested Bashar al-Assad should not stand again for president. Brahimi told a closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council last Friday that Damascus was "surprised and embarrassed" by a January offer of talks from opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib, and its response was "slow and confused".

Brahimi urges UN action on Syria stalemate

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 15:46
UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Friday urged the Security Council to come together on Syria, venting frustration with all sides while denying rumors he plans to resign. Brahimi told the 15-member council that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is "not in a mood for dialogue" and that the only hope for stemming the violence is if the council agrees unanimously on a plan of action, diplomats told AFP.

Syria mediator Brahimi says not resigning post but considers it daily

April 19, 2013 15:15
By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N.-Arab League mediator in the Syria conflict, Lakhdar Brahimi, dismissed rumours on Friday he was resigning due to frustration with the Arab League and the Security Council's inaction, but said he considers departing on a daily basis. "I haven't resigned," Brahimi told reporters. "Every day I wake up and think I should resign. One day perhaps I will resign." He also dismissed reports that he agreed to remain in the post for three more months.

Brahimi urges UN action on Syria stalemate

Agence France-PresseApril 19, 2013 14:16
UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Friday urged the Security Council to come together to address the conflict in Syria, as speculation swirled about his future as mediator. Brahimi told the 15-member council that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is "not in a mood for dialogue" and that the only hope for stemming the violence is if the council agrees unanimously on a plan of action, diplomats told AFP.

Syria daily slams peace envoy Brahimi

April 15, 2013 07:46
Syrian ruling party mouthpiece Al-Baath daily lashed out at UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Monday, accusing him of "not listening to the Syrian people" and suggesting he may resign soon. The newspaper questioned ongoing support for Brahimi's mission "while discussions over plans for a no-fly zone (in Syria) are being carried out behind the scenes at the UN with the participation of Western countries." "Why should we support Brahimi while the UN and Arab League continue to try and impose one group (the opposition) on the Syrian people?", Al-Baath said.

Syrian opposition to form provisional government

February 22, 2013 14:45
Syrian opposition leaders renewed their efforts on Friday to form a provisional government to halt a slide into chaos in rebel-held areas, a day after insisting that any peace talks have to result in the removal of President Bashar al-Assad. Almost two years after the national revolt against Assad broke out in southern Syria, the absence of a political leadership from swathes of land under rebel control has been a glaring weakness of Assad's foes, who have little control over Islamist brigades making advances on the ground.

Brahimi extends Syria peace mission: diplomat

February 20, 2013 16:00
International Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has agreed to extend his mission for at least six months, diplomats said Wednesday. Brahimi's first six-month contract with the United Nations and Arab League, in place of Kofi Annan, ends on Friday. "Brahimi has agreed a six month extension," a UN diplomat said on condition of anonymity. "He clearly feels that there is some life in his mission," added a second diplomat confirming the deal.

Syria mediator will not return to Damascus, guarded on talks

January 31, 2013 16:15
International Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said Thursday he has no plan to return to Damascus and gave a guarded response to an offer by an opposition leader for talks with government figures. "It is worthy of note," Brahimi said of a statement by Syrian National Council leader Moaz al-Khatib that he was "ready for direct discussions" outside of Syria. But the UN-Arab League envoy said the reaction of the government and other opposition figures would be crucial.
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