Nicosia: UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Rosemary DiCarlo, continues her contacts on the island on Tuesday ahead of her departure to Athens, preparing the ground for the informal meeting in an expanded format in Geneva next month.
According to Cyprus News Agency, DiCarlo is scheduled to meet with the UN Good Offices mission staff on Tuesday morning. She will also convene with PRIO Cyprus before leaving for Athens at midday. Her visit is part of the efforts to advance discussions on the Cyprus issue, building on her recent meetings with key leaders.
DiCarlo, who leads the Political and Peacebuilding Department, engaged in talks on Monday with both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar. These discussions focused on the future of the Cyprus issue, setting the stage for the forthcoming informal meeting. During her visit, DiCarlo also highlighted the significance of women’s involvement in peacebuilding, emphasizing it as an effective strategy for enduring peace.
Cyprus has experienced division since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and subsequent occupation of the island’s northern part. Numerous UN-led peace negotiations have yet to achieve lasting solutions, with the last significant talks in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, concluding without agreement.