With no new special UN envoy on divided Cyprus appointed yet, the world organisation seems to be considering an old solution to the new problem, Philenews reports citing insiders.
In particular, the UN chief is probably going to give an increased role to Canadian Colin Steward who is his new resident representative in Cyprus. Something that was the practice in the recent past.
The new storm in efforts for the stalled UN-brokered reunification talks to resume was sparked after the September 27 tripartite meeting in New York between UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
Tatar had grudgingly agreed to the appointment by the UN of a special envoy for Cyprus, replacing Jane Holl Lute.
A routine announcement regarding the new envoy was expected to follow.
But two weeks later, Guterres has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Anastasiades has described Antonio Guterres’ stance as “adroit neutrality.”
The Greek Cypriot side believes this to be the result of Tatar having backtracked on the envoy issue since the tripartite meeting.
Cyprus is divided since a 1974 invasion by Turkey which still maintains troops in the breakaway north of the EU-member state.
Efforts throughout the decades to reunite the island under a bi-zonal bi-communal federal state have failed mainly due to the Turkish side’s intransigence. Their latest unacceptable proposal is for a two-state solution.
