The New UN Envoy for the Cyprus Issue May Commence Work from January 1

The new Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Cyprus issue, Maria Angela Olguin Cuello, may begin her duties from the first day of the new year. This was announced last Sunday by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

"We are awaiting the statement from the UN Secretary-General. According to my information, the appointment is indeed effective from the 1st of next year," stated the head of the state.

According to the President, immediately after the onset of the new year, the former Foreign Minister of Colombia plans to visit New York to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and then promptly travel to Cyprus.

Nicos Anastasiades added that based on past experience working with envoys, he requested the new representative not to limit visits to Cyprus to short one or two-day trips, as such visits are usually insufficient for discussing the conditions for resuming negotiations that would satisfy both sides.

As a reminder, it was reported last week that both sides, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, approved the appointment of Maria Angela Olguin Cuello as the UN Special Envoy for the Cyprus issue.

Previously, she held the position of Colombia's Foreign Minister from 2010 to 2018 and also served as the head of Colombia's mission to the UN and ambassador to Venezuela.