Sydney  - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Thursday confirmed that the United Nations had approached former foreign minister Alexander Downer to act as its interlocutor in reviving the peace process between the Greeks and Turks on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

"What the government has said quite clearly is that, should they extend that invitation to Mr Downer, we would support it," Rudd said. "We would support it on a bipartisan basis because it would be an important appointment for Australia as a special envoy."

Rudd said he didn't know whether Downer, who served as Australia's top diplomat in the previous administration of prime minister John Howard, was one of a number of candidates of the preferred choice.

Brendan Nelson, who took over the Liberal Party leadership after Howard lost power in the November general election, endorsed Downer as a good candidate but did not welcome a job that would entail Downer leaving Parliament and probably forcing a by-election.

"Alexander Downer has enormous ability," Nelson told reporters. "He's Australia's longest-serving foreign minister, and I'm not surprised that anybody would want to engage his considerable experience and skills, but he continues to be the hard-working member for Mayo."

Cyprus is a European Union member but remains a divided country despite decades of diplomacy to try to resolve its political divide. (dpa)