UN special representative due in Cyprus early December

Colin Stewart, the new UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and head of Unficyp, is expected to arrive on the island in early December, it was reported on Friday.

The Cyprus News Agency, citing sources, reports that outgoing incumbent, Elizabeth Spehar, will leave her post at the end of November, while Stewart is expected to arrive at the beginning of next month.

Upon his arrival, he will have separate meetings with President Nicos Anastasiades, and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, the same sources said.

He is to also meet with the heads of diplomatic missions on the island, whose countries play an important role in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, such as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Stewart will later also have meetings with the leaders of political parties as well as with representatives of civil society in both communities, the same sources told CNA.

Stewart’s appointment was announced by the United Nations on November 4.

According to the UN, the Canadian diplomat has more than 28 years of experience in peace and security issues as well as international affairs. He was a member of Canada’s diplomatic service from 1990 to 1997.

He recently served as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara from 2017 to 2021.

He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United Nations Office at the African Union in Addis Ababa and as head of Political Affairs in the UN Mission in Timor-Leste between 2007 and 2009.