Annan extends good offices mission to Cyprus through 2002

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has decided to extend his mission of good offices concerning the situation in Cyprus through the end of next year.

According to an exchange of letters between the Secretary-General and the Security Council President, the efforts of Mr. Annan’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, will continue at least throughout 2002.

That mission includes consultations in the region as well as with various capitals as required, Mr. Annan says, noting that Mr. de Soto will continue to be assisted by a small team.

Meanwhile, Mr. Annan has named Major-General Jin Ha Hwang of the Republic of Korea as the new commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Maj.-Gen. Hwang will succeed Major-General Victory Rana of Nepal on 15 December.