The United Nations Charter
empowers the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter, which, in his opinion, threatens international peace and security. It also calls upon him to perform “such other functions” as are entrusted to him by the Security Council, the General Assembly and the other main United Nations organs. His work entails consultations with world leaders and other individuals, attendance at sessions of various United Nations bodies, issuance of public statements, and acting either personally or through his special representatives and other envoys in the interests of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-building. He also represents the UN in the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, Russian Federation, United States, European Union).
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority represents the Secretary-General in discussions with the parties and the international community in all matters related to continuing United Nations support to the peace process. He is charged with making appropriate preparations within the United Nations for enhancing development assistance in support of the peace process.