CNA – Apostolis Zoupaniotis – United Nations/New York 11/6/2016 11:49
Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has expressed his optimism about the election of Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis to the Presidency of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.
Mavroyiannis` election campaign was concluded on Friday with a large reception held at United Nations Headquarters which was attended by ambassadors and diplomats from more than 100 countries of the Organization.
The election of the President of the UN General Assembly will be held by secret ballot and it will take place on Monday, June 13, at 10:00 am (local time).
Minister said that Cyprus has gained a lot from this campaign as it has been projected in all Member – States expressing at the same his optimism that Cyprus will win this election.
He went on to say that Cyprus is a small country with no hidden agendas noting that if Mavroyiannis was elected to this post that would be made possible because of his value to serve the interest of the entire General Assembly.
The two candidates of geographical Asia-Pacific group, Cyprus Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis and Fiji`s permanent representative to the UN, Peter Thomson attended a three-hour interactive dialogue with civil society organized by the World Federation of UN Associations.
Foreign Minister in the context of his contacts at the United Nations Headquarters met on Friday
with the UK Permanent Representatives to the UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft with whom he discussed the Cyprus problem and Cyprus` candidacy for the presidency of the General Assembly.
On Friday morning he met with the Permanent Representative of Greece, Ambassador Catherine Boura while on Thursday afternoon he met with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour with whom he discussed issues of bilateral interest as well as the Cypriot candidacy for the presidency of the General Assembly.
On Monday Kasoulides will be in Washington where at 10:30 am (local time) he is expected to meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry and the US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern