The role of peacekeeping and negotiation for the Cyprus issue, the contribution of UNFICYP and in particular of the Finnish contingent, was discussed during a seminar that took place on Tuesday organised by the Embassy of Finland titled “60 years of Finnish mediation for peace, building security and trust in Cyprus”.
Finland was one of the 1st countries to contribute peacekeepers to the Mission in 1964 and the seminar was addressed by Erkki Tuomioja former Foreign Affairs Minister of Finland, whose father, Sakari, was the 1st UN mediator in Cyprus.
Other distinguished speakers included Pertti Torstila, former deputy state secretary who also served in UNFICYP, former Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami, and head of UNFICYP Colin Stewart.
A brief address was also delivered by a high ranking official of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zbigniew Wlosowicz, former UNSG special representative to Cyprus was in the audience and shared his memories from serving
on the island, especially during the years before the Anan Plan was finally drafted.
All speakers underlined the importance of bringing the parties back to the negotiating table, working on the process to do that and having political courage to make tough decisions and compromises.
The participants were welcomed by Finland’s Ambassador Harri Maki-Reinikka who spoke about his country’s contribution to the UNFICYP in April 1964 as one of the first contributing nations until its withdrawal in 2005. The Finnish flag was raised again in 2021. So far Finland contributed with 10,000 servicemen and women in the peacekeeping force.
Reinikka also referred to the peace mediation efforts in Cyprus and other countries, to bringing the communities on the island together with various projects, pointing out that this was a selfless contribution and the starting point of Finnish mediation around the world.
Political will and courage needed says Stewart
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UNSG Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP, Colin Stewart,
said that peacekeeping is not itself the solution adding that solution to a conflict is always political and we must invest in negotiation and in finding common ground. He referred to the events taking place in Pyla last summer, pointing out the role of the peacekeeping in finding an understanding. Stewart also underlined that “we are still working on it” adding that “things can be quite complicated”.
The UN official noted that the will of those involved in the negotiations is also important and what is also required is political courage. Stewart also noted that diplomacy and leadership is all about compromises and tough decisions and praised the amount of effort and time put in the Cyprus problem by major players but also referred to the issue of the serious fatigue.
He said that there is now an opportunity and the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides is pushing for the resumption of the dialogue and urged everyone to play his or her role as each year the prospects could diminish. “We cannot afford to
waste such opportunities and we do not have the luxury to wait and see,” he noted.
Crans Montana negotiation the closest we’ve ever been to a solution, says Mavroyiannis
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Former Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis who was also the moderator of the event said that we are here to commemorate UNFICYP’s role but also to reflect on lessons learnt. He referred to the role of Sakari Tuomioja, the first UN mediator and the plans he drafted for Cyprus, pointing out that it would be interesting to be granted access to his notes before sadly passing away in September 1964.
He said that after Tuomioja and Galo Plaza, as UN mediators, we started having UN good offices as we know them today. Mavroyiannis referred to the UN talks in Crans Montana saying that this was the closest we have ever been to a solution. He noted that this was a free negotiation and not a mediation or arbitration and this is why it was the best ever.
Foreign diplomats underline role of peacekeeping and need for a solution
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Z
bigniew Wlosowicz, former UNSG special representative to Cyprus spoke very fondly of his service on the island saying that he had the chance to learn a lot from the local communities and that he is nostalgic of the experience. He also said that his strength came from his team adding that the work of the special representative is a team one and along with the local stuff that walked them through the complexities, he never felt alone. He also referred to the Anan Plan put before the communities, adding that the international community thought big of it but unfortunately we didn’t manage to put it into force.
Erkki Tuomioja, former Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister for 11 years shared his reflection of his father’s Sakari tenure on the island. He said that he was a promoter of silent diplomacy and his view was that there is no conflict that cannot be reasonably resolved if all parties are reasonable enough to sit down and talk. He said that he was ready to present his plans to the parties but unfortunately he fe
ll ill and passed away before the end of his tenure. Tuomioja spoke also of the role of Martii Ahtisaari, former president of Finland and added that Nordic countries have a tradition in mediation as they offer their non-partisan services.
Tuomioja also noted the importance of a sustainable solution to crises, pointing out that just can be interpreted differently and that sustainability can address the economic and social issues. He also underlined that it is important to address the history of a problem so that we can draw lessons from the past mistakes and that no solution can be imposed.
In his address Pertii Torstila, former diplomat at the Finnish MFA and a serviceman in Cyprus in 1966-1967 spoke about his memories on the island, saying that when he arrived here it was like he entered a different world, coming from a country with no sun. He said that UNFICYP was a test for future mediation and a milestone for future projects for him.
He said that he learned a lot about the island, its people, culture,
humour, hospitality and that his service was a useful training for his future diplomatic career.
Torstila said that unfortunately the peacekeeping force was supposed to be on the island for a short time but 60 years later we are still looking for a solution adding that peacekeeping is not the solution and that a political one is the answer. He also referred to the unique bilateral relation between Cyprus and Finland and about Finland’s contribution to the Cyprus issue in the 1990’s under its capacity as head of the European Council.
Former Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami noted that the recent developments in the Middle East and in Ukraine prove that there are no frozen conflicts. He said that conflicts are always alive and they cause pain.
He said that we all agree that the status quo is not acceptable and expressed the opinion that what is of utmost importance is to agree on the process before going into the substance. Nami also underlined the significance of balanced incentives and added that looki
ng forward also means looking back to reflect on mistakes.
Maria Savvidou from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered the speech of Ambassador Penelope Erotokritou, Head of the Cyprus issue directorate.
She expressed her gratitude for UNFICYP’s invaluable contribution adding that today’s event is an opportunity to reflect on the 60 years of its presence on the island. She also referred to the role of Finland and the fact that it assisted in engaging women, the youth and religious actors in the process and supported the civil society. She also noted that Holguin’s appointments is a positive development and the hope is that it will create the momentum for the resumption of the talks.
The event was attended by Ambassadors, former Cyprus Ambassadors abroad, political parties representatives and the civil society.
Establishment of UNFICYP
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On March 4, 1964, the United Nations Security Council, alarmed by the escalation of intercommunal violence on the island, adopted its resolution 186 and decided tha
t the situation demanded the establishment of a United Nations Peacekeeping Force and the appointment of a mediator on the Cyprus issue, leading to the formation of UNFICYP by the end of 1964, with approximately 6,300 peacekeepers (troops and police) from Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and United Kingdom had formed UNFICYP, present at various locations around the island and had begun their work in the impartial, diligent and caring manner that would set the tone for the decades to come.
Sixty years later, more than 150,000 peacekeepers from 43 countries have served with UNFICYP and contributed to the fulfilment of its mandate, he continued, adding that sadly, 187 peacekeepers and staff have lost their lives while serving with the mission, making the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace.
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 lates
t 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 Columbia 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
