UNSG in contact with Security Council on Cyprus, says his deputy spokesperson

The Secretary General remains in regular contact with the members of the Security Council about Cyprus, and he and the other officials of the system will keep the Security Council posted as needed, Farhan Haq, his deputy spokesman said Monday.

Invited to reply to a question during the daily press briefing on whether the Secretary General plans to inform the Security Council regarding the latest Cyprus issue developments, Haq said that “at this stage, there’s nothing to report back”.

“But of course, the Secretary General remains in regular contact with the members of the Security Council about Cyprus, and he and the other officials of the system will keep the Security Council posted as needed”, he said.

To another question if he could confirm or comment on reports from Cyprus that Secretary General is going to appoint a Canadian, Colin Stewart, as Special Envoy, Haq said “No, I don’t have any comment.  There’s no announcement to make at this stage.  Once there’s an announcement, we’ll make it from the floor”.

On September 27, UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres, had a lunch, in New York, with Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, to discuss about the way forward as regards efforts to solve the problem of Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Numerous UN backed talks to reunite the island have failed to yield results.