UN envoy returns to Cyprus on January 12 for renewed effort

Alexander Downer, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus, arrives on the island on January 12, in order to continue the efforts for an agreement between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities on a joint declaration for the resumption of direct talks.

A close aide to Downer has revealed that the UN envoy will stay in Cyprus for a few days and then he will depart for New York in order to brief the Secretary General and the Security Council.

Downer will brief on January 22 the Security Council on the SG’s good offices mission in Cyprus. On the same day, the UN SG’s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim will brief the Security Council on UNFICYP (UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus).

The latest report of the UN Secretary General, which has been given to the members of the Security Council on New Year’s Eve, does not include anything about his good offices mission.

The Security Council will discuss in late January the resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate. The resolution is expected to be adopted on January 29.

A diplomatic source has said that Downer, during his stay in Cyprus, is expected to meet first the leaders of the two communities, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu. He will meet with the negotiators of the two sides, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Osman Ertug.

A renewed effort began in September last year, with meetings between the two negotiators of the two sides as well as a meeting between the leaders of the two communities, with the aim to finalize a joint declaration that would pave the way for the resumption of talks.