Peace and Security

Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura briefs the press in Geneva in January 2015.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

INTERVIEW: "Every conflict has an end, and this conflict... has to come to an end after five years" - UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura

30 July 2015
Middle East

The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has been tasked with reinvigorating an inclusive political process towards ending the crisis in the country, based on the aims set out in the 2012 Geneva Communiqué, which was adopted by the first international conference on the issue and has been endorsed by the UN security Council.

Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino León (left) and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a press conference in Berlin.
UNSMIL

‘Libya doesn’t have time,’ says UN envoy, urging parties to make political draft ‘a final one’

10 June 2015
Africa

Amid “very encouraging signs” in the United Nations-facilitated Libyan political dialogue, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the North African nation today said that “time has come to make an agreement” and if possible, before or at the beginning of Ramadan, which begins on 17 June.

Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino León briefs reporters in Skhirat, Morocco.
UNSMIL

Presenting draft proposal, UN envoy urges Libyan parties to ‘heal rift that has torn your country apart’

9 June 2015
Africa

Telling stakeholders in Libya’s dialogue that “mothers across [the country] have their eyes on you,” the United Nations envoy for Libya presented draft political proposal and said that the time had finally come for the parties to take the difficult decision to make peace and begin the process towards national reconciliation.

Participants at the UN-facilitated political dialogue in the city of Skhirat in Morocco in March 2015.
UNSMIL

Libyan political dialogue round set for Monday in Morocco – UN mission

5 June 2015
Africa

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced today that the next round of Libyan political dialogue sessions in Skhirat, Morocco, will commence on Monday, 8 June.

Opening remarks by Special Representative Bernardino León (second left) at Libyan political leaders and activists meeting in Algeria.
UNSMIL

Libya: UN envoy meets political actors and activists on reaching final agreement to end crisis

3 June 2015
Africa

The only option Libya has, “the only real alternative for the future,” is an agreement, Special Representative and head of the United Nations Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL), Bernardino León said at a meeting in Algeria with Libyan political leaders and activists today.

Special Representative for Libya and head of UNSMIL, Bernardino León (seated right) delivers opening remarks to the latest meeting of Libyan political leaders and activists held in Algeria.
UNSMIL

In Algeria, UN envoy opens latest round of talks between Libyan leaders, activists

13 April 2015
Africa

Libyan stakeholders must give the country’s United Nations-facilitated peace process a chance in order for a political solution to take hold and end the ongoing fighting in the North African nation, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has declared.

People displaced by fighting between armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), seek refuge in Batangafo, north of the capital Bangui.
OCHA/Gemma Cortes

At high-level debate, UN officials urge boosted efforts for security sector reform

12 February 2015

Security sector reform, good governance, the rule of law, and accountable institutions are critical building blocks for a sustainable future, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson declared today as he urged a greater international focus on security sector reform as part of an effort to strengthen the links between peace and security, development, and human rights.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
UN Photo/Mark Garten (file)

Mozambique: UN chief welcomes dialogue between President and opposition leader

10 February 2015
Africa

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the meetings between Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and the head of the opposition RENAMO party, Afonso Dhlakama, adding his approval of the progress made in talks between the two leaders and congratulating them both for their “commitment to dialogue,” the UN Spokesperson's office has announced.

Derek Plumbly, a former British diplomat with extensive Middle East experience, served a three-year stint as the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon.
UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

INTERVIEW: all parties want calm across Israeli-Lebanese border, says former UN envoy

22 January 2015
Middle East

While there are still outstanding issues and underlying tensions, all parties want to maintain calm across the so-called ‘Blue Line’ that separates Israel and Lebanon, according to a former United Nations official tasked with monitoring the issue.