FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Colin Stewart, the outgoing Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, is set to meet with the President of the Republic today, marking the final days of his tenure before retirement.
In a series of farewell interviews, the Canadian diplomat reflected on his time on the island and assessed the prospects for resolving the Cyprus issue.
He dismissed the notion of a two-state solution as baseless, emphasizing that while people from both communities have shown they can coexist, trust at the leadership level remains elusive.
Stewart also underscored the critical role of the UN peacekeeping force, warning that its absence could lead to serious risk of armed conflict in the buffer zone.
Stewart, a Canadian diplomat, assumed the role in late 2021 and will officially step down in early August, concluding nearly three decades of service with the United Nations.
His posting in Cyprus will be his final before retirement.