Cyprus Issue | UN Announcement on the appointment of Colin Stewart to the position of Elizabeth Spehar

Defence Redefined

Published on 06/11/2021 at 10:00

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Colin Stewart of Canada as the new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Mr. Steward will also perform the role of Deputy to the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Cyprus issue.

According to a statement issued by the UN last night, Mr. Stewart will replace Elizabeth Spehar of Canada, whose term Antonio Guterres expresses his gratitude for.

https://twitter.com/UN_CYPRUS/status/1456480619026862080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1456480619026862080%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctw% 2Fanakoinothike-o-diorismos-toy-kolin-stioyart-sti-thesi-tis-elizampeth-spehar 

According to the announcement, Mr. Stewart has more than 28 years of experience in international affairs and in the field of peace and security. The Canadian diplomat served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara from 2017 to 2021, as Deputy Chief of Staff of the UN Office in Africa as well as in various UN missions, such as Head of Political Affairs at the UN Mission in Timor-Leste between 2007 and 2009. Finally, he was a member of Canadian diplomacy from 1990 to 1997. 

Speaking on the issue on “Alpha Kalimera”, Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, described the development as “expected”.

Regarding the appointment of a special envoy for the Cyprus issue, Mr. Pelekanos said that it is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Also read: Cyprus Issue | UN Security Council decisions, the only accepted framework