The effort to reunite Cyprus is at a critical juncture, according to a top UN official, who is urging leaders on both sides to demonstrate political courage and is warning civil society groups that it’s now or never. Colin Stewart, the UN’s special representative in Cyprus, emphasized the urgency of settling the decades-long dispute, stating that time is running out to reach a resolution. He encouraged local civil society groups to seize any opportunities, no matter how small, to move towards a solution. Stewart also highlighted the appointment of a veteran Colombian diplomat as the UN secretary general’s personal envoy on Cyprus, describing it as a “tremendous opportunity” to make progress. The new envoy, María Ángela Holguín Cuellar, has met with leaders from both sides of the island to assess whether conditions are ripe to resume negotiations. Holguín expressed hope that her experience in facilitating a historic peace accord in Colombia could help resolve the diplomatic dispute in Cyprus. The UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, established in 1964, has been continually renewed and remains on the island to supervise ceasefire lines and patrol a buffer zone that bisects Nicosia, Europe’s last divided capital. With over 150,000 peacekeepers from 43 countries having served with UNFICYP, it is one of the UN’s longest-running deployments. Stewart stressed the need to solve the problem and eventually withdraw the peacekeeping mission, stating that the mission’s purpose is not to remain in perpetuity. The original article can be found at www.theguardian.com