This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/world/middleeast/Brahimi-Syria-civil-war.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Top U.N. Mediator in Syria Conflict Resigns | Top U.N. Mediator in Syria Conflict Resigns |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UNITED NATIONS — Lakhdar Brahimi, the veteran United Nations mediator tapped to help broker a political settlement in Syria, resigned on Tuesday, signaling the bleak prospects for peace in a conflict that has gone on for more than three years and claimed more than 150,000 lives. | UNITED NATIONS — Lakhdar Brahimi, the veteran United Nations mediator tapped to help broker a political settlement in Syria, resigned on Tuesday, signaling the bleak prospects for peace in a conflict that has gone on for more than three years and claimed more than 150,000 lives. |
| “I have decided to accept the request of Lakhdar Brahimi to relinquish his duties,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters at a news briefing at the United Nations, with Mr. Brahimi standing beside him. Mr. Ban said the resignation was effective at the end of May. | |
| “Mr. Brahimi has long been recognized as one of the world’s most brilliant diplomats,” Mr. Ban said. The resignation, he said, “is a failure for all of us.” | “Mr. Brahimi has long been recognized as one of the world’s most brilliant diplomats,” Mr. Ban said. The resignation, he said, “is a failure for all of us.” |
| Mr. Brahimi thanked Mr. Ban and told reporters the resignation “was not a very pleasant situation for me.” | Mr. Brahimi thanked Mr. Ban and told reporters the resignation “was not a very pleasant situation for me.” |
| His resignation came amid rising frustration with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who ignored Mr. Brahimi’s proposed agenda for talks and then scheduled a presidential election that will probably install him for another seven-year term. Top United Nations officials had expressed dismay at the move, saying the election would probably sabotage any further diplomacy. | His resignation came amid rising frustration with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who ignored Mr. Brahimi’s proposed agenda for talks and then scheduled a presidential election that will probably install him for another seven-year term. Top United Nations officials had expressed dismay at the move, saying the election would probably sabotage any further diplomacy. |
| Mr. Brahimi told the Security Council in mid-March that there was no point in staying on in his role if Mr. Assad went ahead with a vote. Mr. Assad responded by setting a date in early June. | Mr. Brahimi told the Security Council in mid-March that there was no point in staying on in his role if Mr. Assad went ahead with a vote. Mr. Assad responded by setting a date in early June. |
| “There’s no point in asking the poor guy to keep hanging on indefinitely,” said a United Nations diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic protocol about the announcement. | “There’s no point in asking the poor guy to keep hanging on indefinitely,” said a United Nations diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of diplomatic protocol about the announcement. |
| Mr. Brahimi led the government and opposition representatives in two rounds of talks in Switzerland. The last ended without agreement even on an agenda for talks. Elections would defy one of the central premises for the negotiations: to discuss how to form an interim transitional government. | Mr. Brahimi led the government and opposition representatives in two rounds of talks in Switzerland. The last ended without agreement even on an agenda for talks. Elections would defy one of the central premises for the negotiations: to discuss how to form an interim transitional government. |
| There is no agreement on who might succeed Mr. Brahimi, nor how a successor might proceed. Diplomats are debating whether it would help to install another high profile figure, or choose someone less known. | There is no agreement on who might succeed Mr. Brahimi, nor how a successor might proceed. Diplomats are debating whether it would help to install another high profile figure, or choose someone less known. |
| Several diplomats have said a breakthrough on Syria will come only if Iran, the Assad government’s most important backer in the Middle East, can be persuaded to cooperate on a political settlement. | Several diplomats have said a breakthrough on Syria will come only if Iran, the Assad government’s most important backer in the Middle East, can be persuaded to cooperate on a political settlement. |