Update: Cyprus’ bid for presidency of the UN was not successful, Andreas Mavrogiannis lost 90-94 to Fijian candidate Peter Thomson.

Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides is in New York campaigning for Cyprus to win the presidency of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly. If it goes through, it would be the first time the island has held the position.

The minister held a series of bilateral meetings, and hosted a dinner in honor of the Permanent Representatives of Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Tunisia, amongst others.

During his round of contacts, Kasoulides met with UNSG Ban Ki-moon and discussed the possibility of him presiding over a meeting between President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader when the time is right to announce a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The UNSG praised the leaders’ determination to reach a solution within 2016.

“He (the UNSG) said that he wishes to put his seal on a solution, if possible by presiding over a meeting between the two leaders. I replied that he is welcomed to do so, but we should first find the best time, when the understandings between the two leaders will be mature for a meeting to be productive,” said the minister.