Nicosia Mayor, Constantinos Yiorkadjis, informed the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar, about the long-lasting role of bi-communal projects in creating a climate of trust in the daily living and working conditions between the two communities, during a meeting they had on Wednesday.
According to a press release issued by the Municipality on Thursday, Holguin was informed about the Nicosia Master Plan, while “the importance of creating a climate of trust in daily living and working conditions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots” was also discussed.
In particular, the Mayor presented projects such as the wastewater treatment plant in Turkish occupied Mia Milia, the employment opportunities for Turkish Cypriots at the Cyens Centre of Excellence, the redevelopment project of the Pediaios River, the prospect of creating new crossing points in the centre of the historic city, rainwater management within the buffer zone in walled Nicosia and other
issues that could foster trust between the two communities.
Nicosia remains the last divided capital of Europe. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
