UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has named a seasoned Norwegian diplomat as the next special envoy to Syria, AFP reported Wednesday (October 31st).

In a letter seen Tuesday by AFP, Guterres told the UN Security Council he wishes to give the job to Geir O Pedersen.

Pedersen is a veteran diplomat, who in 1993 was a member of the Norwegian team to the secret negotiations that led to the signing of the Oslo accords between Israel and the Palestinians.

He has held several posts in the region, including as UN envoy to south Lebanon in 2005 and then as special co-ordinator for Lebanon from 2007 to 2008.

Pedersen also spent several years as Norway's representative to the Palestinian Authority. He is currently Norway's ambassador to China and has previously served as its envoy to the UN.

In taking this decision, Guterres said he had consulted broadly.

"Pedersen will support the Syrian parties by facilitating an inclusive and credible political solution that meets the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people," he said.

He also thanked Staffan de Mistura, the outgoing envoy, "for his more than four years of concerted efforts and contributions to search for peace in Syria".