Syrians and Russians send advice and a message to the new Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Syria!

Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, has advised Syria’s new international envoy, Geir Pedersen, to draw on previous agreements and not to abandon anything that has been achieved.

Nebenzya told reporters on Friday that the new special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Syria, Geir Pedersen, should base his work on agreements and understandings reached earlier.

“I think Mr. Pedersen should not give up anything that was achieved before his appointment.

We have Resolution 2254 on Syria, which is the basis of the political settlement, as well as Operation Astana and Sochi, and the achievements of the constitutional committee”.

“It is not important what we think about the new envoy, the important thing is that the Syrian government is ready to work with him, be impartial, impartial, objective, diplomatic, and try to advance the peace process”.

“I never met him personally, but I’m sure I’ll meet him soon” Nebenzya said.

Nebenzya statements came after the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying that, Russia supported the UN Secretary-General’s decision to appoint Pedersen as special envoy, betting on his neutrality.

Meanwhile, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Al Miqdad said on Sunday that Syria, as well as cooperating with the former special envoys, would cooperate with Pedersen, provided that he avoids the methods of his predecessor.

“Syria, as it cooperated with the former special envoys, will cooperate with Pedersen, provided that he avoids the methods of his predecessors, declares his allegiance to the unity of the land and the people of Syria, does not stand with the terrorists as he did his predecessor, Charter of the United Nations for the Freedom of Peoples in the Fight against Terrorism.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterich, appointed Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen on Wednesday as special envoy to Syria, replacing current envoy Stephane de Mistura, who will leave office this month at his request and for family reasons.

Pedersen, who Born in Oslo, Norway, on 28 September 1955, is married and had five children.

He held several diplomatic posts, most recently as ambassador to China since 2017 and as a permanent representative to the United Nations from 2012 to 2017.

Pederson also served as UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (2007-2008) and Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General to Southern Lebanon (2005-2007).

He served as Director of the Asia-Pacific Division of the Political Affairs Section of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

Also, Pederson, was part of the Norwegian team for the Oslo negotiations between the PLO and Israel in 1993.