UN envoy to West Asia to step down

Jerusalem, Apr 4: UN envoy to the West Asia Alvaro de Soto plans to leave the post in May and diplomats said the world body was considering options that include naming a new special envoy jointly with its Quartet partners.

Members of the Quartet of West Asia mediators the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations are drafting proposals to try to spur negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and to promote an Arab land-for-peace initiative.

Led by the United States, the Quartet cut off direct financial aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas Islamists came to power in March 2006 after beating Abbas's Fatah faction in parliamentary elections.

"He had indicated his desire to move on, but (UN Secretary-General) Ban Ki-moon asked him to stay on through his current contract, which lasts until May 7, when we expect his distinguished 25-year career will end," said Ban's spokesman, Farhan Haq, adding that de Soto's replacement had not yet been decided.

Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday there was some uncertainty about the future of the UN special envoy's post, which de Soto has held since May 2005.

They said one of the options being discussed within the United Nations was the appointment of a special envoy who would represent the broader Quartet in any future push for peace talks.

UN officials said no decisions about de Soto's replacement have been made. Diplomats cautioned that internal deliberations were still at an early stage and that opposition within the Quartet could scuttle the idea of appointing an envoy for the group.

The Quartet's last envoy, James Wolfensohn, stepped down a year ago and had focused largely on economic issues before Hamas came to power.

The Arab proposal, revived at a summit in Saudi Arabia last month, offers Israel normal ties with all Arab states in return for a full withdrawal from the lands it seized in the 1967 Middle East war, creation of a Palestinian state and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees.

European diplomats said the idea of appointing a special envoy for the Quartet has not been raised within the European Union. But diplomats said the EU was looking for tangible ways to advance the Arab initiative.

Asked during her recent visit to the area if she might appoint a special West Asia envoy, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "Let's see how it evolves. I'm quite flexible on what geometry we use."

Reuters