Greece backs UN's Cuéllar in Cyprus reunification efforts

Greece supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and his personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, for the reunification of Cyprus, diplomatic sources from Athens said on Wednesday.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Greek diplomatic sources said that "the perpetuation of the current status quo, the occupation of a third of the island and the creation of two states are not solutions."

"We remain committed to the solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the decisions of the UN Security Council which provide for a solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation," they noted.

In this context, the same sources added, "we support the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy for the reunification of the island."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.