Secretary-General's Special Advisor, Alvaro de Soto, Travelling to Cyprus

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, is on his way to the island.

The main purpose of his visit is familiarization with Cyprus and the work of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on the island. It is not to further the process of the proximity talks, although Mr. de Soto will be meeting with Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash towards the end of his stay. Proximity talks are due to resume, subject to confirmation, on 23 May in New York.

Mr. de Soto has just concluded a two-day visit to Brussels to meet with officials of the European Union. After departing Cyprus on 8 March, he will go to Ankara and Athens for meetings with Greek Foreign Minister Georges Papandreou and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and other officials.