Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides expressed hope that the incident that took place earlier at Pyla between the UN and the Turkish occupying forces on a piece of plot they claim as theirs, will not lead into tension, adding that our side is in touch with the UN and we are monitoring the situation. He said that we were asked by the United Nations for a short break on the works taking place, following the consensus reached. ‘We are monitoring the issue, we are in contact with the United Nations and we will make relevant statements accordingly. But I can tell you that there was a request for a short break and the assurance that the situation will return’, he said. He said that for Pyla as well as for other parts of the buffer zone, which is 184 km long, there is an effort on the part of Turkish occupying forces to challenge its status. The President noted that this was the reason the Greek Cypriot side proposed for the consensus to be reached adding that the United Nations knows know very well what should be implemented. ‘Anything different cannot be accepted by the Republic of Cyprus,’ he pointed out. Replying to another question by the press he said that the United Nations said that possibly tomorrow the works in the area will resume as it was mutually agreed. He added that the Security Council, in particular the five permanent members, are monitoring developments. He was asked if he will have a telephone conversation with the UNSG, and replied that he has no scheduled telephone communication with the SG. He said he heard of the Turkish Cypriot leader’s statement that he spoke with the SG and expressed his hope that in this conversation Ersin Tatar, in consultation with Turkey, has given his approval on the appointment of an envoy for the Cyprus issue. The President said that the efforts on behalf of the UN on this matter continue, despite the initial position of the Turkish side. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. In August 2023, the Turkish Cypriot side unilaterally announced its intention to build the road through the buffer zone between the villages of Pyla and occupied Arsos. Turkish Cypriots and settlers entered the buffer zone and attacked personnel and vehicles of UNFICYP. A peacekeeper was punched in the face. The international community, including five permanent members of the UN Security Council, condemned the attack. Later on, discussions began aiming at resolving the issue. According to an understanding that has been reached for Pyla, a single urban development area will be created, which will ensure the harmonious coexistence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the area of Pyla and, will include, among other things, a large area of residential development, the paving of a road leading towards Troulloi village, the creation of photovoltaic parks and the expansion of the urban use area of the village.
Source: Cyprus News Agency