16/08/2017 13:50
The parties in Cyprus are in a period of reflection, the United Nations said, adding that the UNSG will make a decision on the way forward in due course.
Answering questions during Tuesday’s daily briefing, the UNSG’s Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric on what will the UN’s role be after Espen Barth Eide’s resignation and the collapse of the latest talks in Crans Montana, he said, “the parties are, right now, in what we would call a period of reflection”.
Dujarric added that the “Office of the Special Adviser remains” and will be headed by the Deputy Special Adviser, Elizabeth Spehar, who also serves as the [head] of UNFICYP (United Nations Force in Cyprus).
“In due course, the Secretary General will make a decision on the way forward”, he added.
Invited to comment on Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades’ remarks that he will be seeking, during the General Assembly week in September, to see if there is a UN role going forward, the UN Spokesman said that on terms of the next envoy, what the office will look like, the Secretary General will make his decision in due course.
“As a matter of principle, whenever an envoy is named, it is obviously… there is consultation with the parties. We are never going to put forward a name or person that one or more of the parties do not accept. That`s a matter of principle.
Dujarric said that Antonio Guterres was clear in his comments in Crans Montana that he remains available should the parties come to him. “I`m sure that Cyprus will be one of the many issues that will be discussed in the Secretary General`s various bilaterals that he will have during the General Assembly”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of the UN-backed Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended inconclusively. The peace talks under the auspices of the UN aim at reuniting the island under a federal roof.
Answering questions during Tuesday’s daily briefing, the UNSG’s Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric on what will the UN’s role be after Espen Barth Eide’s resignation and the collapse of the latest talks in Crans Montana, he said, “the parties are, right now, in what we would call a period of reflection”.
Dujarric added that the “Office of the Special Adviser remains” and will be headed by the Deputy Special Adviser, Elizabeth Spehar, who also serves as the [head] of UNFICYP (United Nations Force in Cyprus).
“In due course, the Secretary General will make a decision on the way forward”, he added.
Invited to comment on Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades’ remarks that he will be seeking, during the General Assembly week in September, to see if there is a UN role going forward, the UN Spokesman said that on terms of the next envoy, what the office will look like, the Secretary General will make his decision in due course.
“As a matter of principle, whenever an envoy is named, it is obviously… there is consultation with the parties. We are never going to put forward a name or person that one or more of the parties do not accept. That`s a matter of principle.
Dujarric said that Antonio Guterres was clear in his comments in Crans Montana that he remains available should the parties come to him. “I`m sure that Cyprus will be one of the many issues that will be discussed in the Secretary General`s various bilaterals that he will have during the General Assembly”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of the UN-backed Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended inconclusively. The peace talks under the auspices of the UN aim at reuniting the island under a federal roof.
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