The incoming UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his team have been extensively informed on the Cyprus problem, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has said on Friday during a daily press briefing.
Guterres is set to take over as Secretary General from Ban Ki Moon on January 1, 2017, CNA reported.
Asked if Guterres will attend upcoming Cyprus talks in Geneva in January, Dujarric said it was too early to tell whether the next Secretary General would go.
“I think that is all part of the transition planning,” he said.
Dujarric added that the current Secretary General’s team has extensively briefed Guterres on the political issues, which are at the critical and delicate point the Cyprus issue is.
Asked if UN Secretary General Special Adviser to Cyprus Espen Barth Eide will remain part of the negotiations after Guterres officially becomes Secretary General, Dujarric said: “As for those who will remain in the next administration that is really a question to ask the incoming team.”
Dujarric said Secretary General Ban Ki Moon “is determined to ensure that no ball is dropped on during the transition,” adding that Ban “very much welcomes this very positive news we are hearing on Cyprus and that the two leaders have agreed to come back to Geneva.”
He said the Cyprus issue “is an issue that the Secretary General Ban is following closely. You know he has been involved, he went to Mont Pelerin so I think we are happy to see these latest developments.”
President Nicos Anastasiades informed the public on Friday night about the decision to restart Cyprus talks.
Source: CNA
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