Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Espen Barth Eide of Norway as Special Adviser on Cyprus

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Espen Barth Eide of Norway as his new Special Adviser on Cyprus.

Mr. Eide will assume the position formerly held by Alexander Downer of Australia, who stepped down as his Special Adviser in April.  The Secretary-General expresses his gratitude to Lisa Buttenheim of the United States, his Special Representative and Head of Mission, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), for serving as Acting Special Adviser since Mr. Downer’s departure.

Mr. Eide is a seasoned diplomat who brings to the position a deep understanding of peace processes and peacemaking.  Mr. Eidewas previously Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway from 2012 to 2013, and also served in other senior positions during his 10 years in the Norwegian Government, including as Minister for Defence from 2011 to 2012.

He was a Senior Researcher and Research Director at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, specializing in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and regional and global security issues.  He has also been involved in a series of important United Nations-initiated best practices and reform processes.

Mr. Eide currently serves as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board of the World Economic Forum in Geneva.

Born in 1964, he is married and has three sons.

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