Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the UN Secretary General’s Reports for his Mission of Good Offices and UNFICYP
With regards to the UN Secretary-General’s Reports for his Mission of Good Services and the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes the following:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the Secretary General’s continued commitment in the efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem, guided by the relevant Security Council Resolutions which form the relevant UN parameters. The Secretary General’s commitment to the resumption of a meaningful negotiation process, which will lead to a mutually acceptable solution within the UN framework, is reflected in the recent appointment of Mrs Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar as his Personal Envoy. The Government of the Republic of Cyprus would like to reiterate its commitment to support Mrs Holguin’s mission, with a view of swiftly breaking the deadlock and resuming negotiations.
With regards to the UN Secretary General’s Report on UNFICYP, we note the expressed concern of the Secretary General for the developments in the fenced-off area of Varosha for which Turkey is held responsible. We also note his assurances that the UN position on Varosha remains unchanged, while repeating the call for full respect of the relevant Security Council Resolutions, and a return to the status quo ante.
As far as the situation in the buffer zone is concerned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shares the concern expressed by the Secretary General regarding the repeated violations by the Turkish occupation forces, which seem to be part of a deliberate policy aiming to challenge the ceasefire line and the status of the buffer zone. In particular, the Reports record a series of violations in Pyla, Deryneia and the broader Nicosia region, with special reference to the buffer zone in Ayios Dometios and Maria’s house. Unfortunately, a precise description of facts - such as the continued violation in Strovilia - is not always achieved by the UN, that have throughout the years displayed a trend of keeping equal distances.
Humanitarian issues, such as the living conditions of the enclaved and the need for Turkey to co-operate in order to establish the fate of the missing persons, continue unfortunately, to be underreported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to cooperate constructively with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for the effective execution of its mandate and for the ultimate goal of reaching a fair and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
------------------- Thursday, 11 January 2024