UNSG’s reports expected mid-January

The two draft reports by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are expected to be released to members of the UN Security Council in the second week of January, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported on Monday.

The reports concern the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) and its good offices on the island.

Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general’s special representative and head of Unficyp Colin Stewart is expected to travel to New York before mid-January, so as to brief the UN Security Council.

Citing sources, CNA said the draft reports are likely to be delivered to the members of the Security Council in the second week of January, while the final reports will likely be released around January 13, which is the period during which there will be consultations in New York with the participation of Stewart.

Stewart will have two meetings in New York, one with representatives of the parties contributing troops and police forces to Unficyp and another with the members of the Security Council, probably a week after the first meeting.

As for the possibility of separate meetings between Stewart and President Nikos Christodoulides, as well as Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, before the UN official’s trip to New York, the same sources say that if there are to be such meetings, they will take place towards the end of December or early January.

Meanwhile, the annual UN reception organised by Stewart marking the end of the year is set to take place on December 11 at Ledra Palace hotel, where both Christodoulides and Tatar will be invited.