Originally posted here.
Meet Robert H Serry, the career diplomat from the Netherlands who the Secretary General tapped to lead the UN’s efforts to mediate the crisis in the Ukraine and Crimea.
On paper, he looks to be the perfect person for the task.
Serry has worked in the UN system since 2007. Prior to that he served as the Dutch ambassador to Russia and Ukraine. He’s even written a book on Ukraine!
Serry currently
serves as the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, meaning he is Ban Ki Moon’s representative to the “quartet.” The other three members are Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Theoretically, that should mean he has developed a diplomatic acumen in dealing with the United States and Russia on a high stakes political dispute.
Serry left Kiev for Crimea yesterday. He will be the highest ranking international diplomat to visit Crimea since the crisis erupted. I would imagine that we’ll be hearing a great deal more from — and about — Robert Serry in the coming weeks.