Bon Voyage Alexander

Following his recent appointment as Australia's next High Commissioner to London, Alexander Downer bid a final farewell to Cyprus this month. For the past 5 and a half years he has filled the post of UN Special Envoy for Cyprus, working on behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.  He has had mixed success during his tenure, and despite numerous rounds of facilitated negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leadership, there has not been any substantive breakthrough in the 40 year old impasse between the two sides.  Upon his departure from Cyprus he was quoted as saying he was the latest in a long line of UN-appointed negotiators who have sought to mediate between the two sides and find a breakthrough, but without success.  'A diplomats graveyard' is how another paper once described Cyprus!

There is no decision yet regarding a replacement for Downer, and there have been recent moves to increase US engagement in the negotiations between Turkey and the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, especially as John Kerry continues to seek a breakthrough in the broader Middle East.  Many a politician would love to have 'successful resolution of the Cyprus issue' on their resume!

You can read more about Downer's tenure in Cyprus and departure here:

www.cyprus-mail.com/tag/alexander-downer