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UN chief names new deputy special coordinator for Middle East peace process

Xinhua, May 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Monday announced the appointment of Robert Piper of Australia as the deputy UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, to work toward the realization of the two-state solution, a UN spokesman told reporters here Monday.

Piper's new post is at the level of assistant secretary-general, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

"Mr. Piper will also serve as UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory," said Dujarric. Piper will succeed James Rawley of the United States.

On Feb. 5, Nickolay Mladenov of Bulgaria was appointed by the secretary-general as his special coordinator for the Middle East peace process.

Piper brings more than 25 years of humanitarian and development experience with the United Nations, leading efforts in peace building, conflict prevention and disaster risk reduction in a number of complex situations. He has been serving as the UN regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel region since 2013.

The two-state solution, widely backed by the international community, means a secure Israel to live in peace with an independent State of Palestine. The United Nations has been long pushing for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Endite