The Syria issue

This issue of the UNA-UK magazine looks at the seemingly intractable crisis in Syria, and in particular, the UN’s response to it.

We are delighted and fortunate to have Lakhdar Brahimi guest editing this issue of the magazine. Mr Brahimi is one of the world’s most credible and effective diplomats, a former Algerian Foreign Minister and a former UN Special Representative to Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and South Africa. Between 2012-2014 he was the United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria. His insightful and humane editorial is one of the highlights of the magazine.

The magazine showcases voices and ideas on Syria that you do not normally hear. We asked analysts from eight of the countries with the biggest stakes in the conflict to explain the nature of their country’s involvement.

We also looked closely at the UN’s response, through an interview with Melissa Fleming – the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Senior Advisor to Secretary-General António Guterres’ transition team – and opinion pieces by former New Zealand Ambassador to the UN Colin Keating, and former Speechwriter to Kofi Annan Edward Mortimer.

Meanwhile, Birgitta Holst Alani, facilitator to the Geneva peace talks, investigates the under-explored aspect of gender in the Syrian conflict, and Baroness Valerie Amos looks at how ordinary British citizens can push for a collective response to Syria.