January 2019 to Present

In January 2019, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as the UN Special Envoy for Syria, succeeding Staffan de Mistura. Pedersen is the fourth individual to hold this position since the United Nations began its involvement in the Syrian cause.

Under his UN mandate, Pedersen is responsible for leading efforts to fully implement Security Council Resolution 2254 of 2015, which outlines the elements necessary for a political solution to the Syrian conflict through a political transition process.

Pedersen has held numerous positions in both government and the United Nations. Most recently, he served as Norway’s Ambassador to China and as Norway’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2012 to 2017. He was the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon from 2007 to 2008 and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Southern Lebanon from 2005 to 2007. Additionally, he led the Asia and Pacific Division in the UN Department of Political Affairs from 2012 to 2017. From 1998 to 2003, Geir Pedersen served as Norway’s representative to the Palestinian Authority.