After five years of service, UN’s Middle East envoy bids farewell to staff in Gaza

The outgoing United Nations envoy for the Middle East today visited Gaza to bid farewell to the UN family after more than five years of serving as Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s senior representative in the strife-torn region.

Terje Roed-Larsen, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, will leave the region tomorrow to assume new responsibilities as Mr. Annan’s top aide on the question of foreign troops in Lebanon. His formal title will be the Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559.

The 57-year old Norwegian diplomat will be based in New York and will also serve as the President of the International Peace Academy.