ATHENS: Before he took up his post as special United Nations envoy to Cyprus, Alexander Downer enthusiastically declared that he would ''fix up'' the ''untidy'' problem of reuniting Greeks and Turks on the island.

Almost 18 months later, the former Australian foreign affairs minister has discovered - like so many before him - that it might not be so easy.

He faces calls for his resignation amid accusations of favouritism and complaints he does not spend enough time on the island.

He dismisses the censure - levelled mostly by Greek Cypriots - as ''part of the political colour''.

''Because this is a conflict situation there are always people who will have different views,'' he said in a telephone interview from Cyprus's divided capital, Nicosia.