Cyprus Times

Dian in New York to Brief the UN Security Council

Published January 7, 2026, 13:13
Dian in New York to Brief the UN Security Council

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, Kasim Dian, is in New York to brief the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the situation on the island. He is expected to meet with representatives of countries contributing to UNFICYP, as well as with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The briefing to the UNSC will take place on January 15th, based on new reports on the Good Offices and UNFICYP. Simultaneously, the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate for another year is under consideration, on January 29th. However, as part of UN restructuring, a reduction of $1.2 million in the budget of the Office of the Special Advisor on Cyprus is proposed, along with the abolition of eight positions, including that of the Special Advisor. This proposed reduction is attributed to the absence of official negotiations since 2017 and the appointment of a Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Cyprus, who will monitor the initiatives agreed in Geneva in 2025. The position of Special Advisor has been vacant since Espen Barth Eide's departure. Furthermore, the abolition of seven jobs in the Office of Good Offices is underway, with the dismissal of staff involved in the Technical Committees and the organization of meetings. This development raises concerns about the frequency of activities and the effectiveness of efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.