By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 9 -- To replace Lakhdar Brahimi as envoy on Syria, multiple diplomats told the Press on July 9, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is choosing Staffan de Mistura. As others don't report, there is a history between the two.

As Inner City Press reported, triggering much push-back, while envoy in Iraq Mistura hired Ban Ki-moon's son-in-law Siddharth Chatterjee. After this, Mistura was named envoy to Afghanistan.

   Inner City Press asked Mistura in that capacity repeatedly about UN inaction on the murder of UN security officer Louis Maxwell by Afghan national forces, with no result. The questions, as is increasingly the trend under Ban Ki-moon on topics ranging from Haiti cholera to Sri Lanka and flying genocidaires, was stonewalled.

   Chatterjee, as Inner City Press also reported, has become UNFPA's representative in Kenya.

Now Mistura, after a stint in an Italian government, one of many, is also set to return. He's been said interested in replacing Ban, as has another candidate, Kevin Rudd. Call it the Syria sweepstakes.

Earlier in the process to replace Brahimi, Inner City Press reported from multiple sources the consideration of Tunisia's former (Ben Ali and nepotism-era) foreign minister Morjane. But even for Ban Ki-moon, the contradiction of such an appointment with the “Arab Spring” was too much. Other types of relationships and echoes are deemed more acceptable.

Ban met with Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari at 10:55 am on July 9. Watch this site.