Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that the name of the person selected by the UN Secretary-General for the position of his Special Envoy for Cyprus problem would be announced very soon, briefing the press after the Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday.
“The UN Secretary-General has conveyed his determination to appoint an envoy in the immediate future. We welcome this decision and hope that the appointment will take place as soon as possible, in order to explore the prospect of resuming negotiations,” said Letymbiotis.
He added that the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides had conveyed to the UN Secretary-General the sincere willingness of the government to restart negotiations as soon as possible. This commitment, he said, was made clear ‘by the immediate positive response from our side to the UN’s chosen candidate, who was rejected, however, by the Turkish side’.
Continuous contact with peacekeeping force regarding Pyla
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Responding t
o questions about construction works in the village of Pyla, the Spokesman said that the government maintains continuous communication with the peacekeeping force in Cyprus, reiterating its sincere intention to resume work in accordance with the provisions of the agreement reached.
“We expect the peacekeeping force and the UN to ensure the full provisions of the mutual understanding,” he said.
Asked if the government has received any new requests from the Turkish Cypriot side, the Spokesman said that there would be no renegotiation of the mutual understanding, stressing that the process was the result of thorough and intensive consultations.
“The government expects the contacts of the peacekeeping force to be completed soon, securing the resumption of work shortly,” he concluded.
Works were being carried out Pyla on the basis of an understanding reached, but were temporarily halted in order to resolve complaints by some Turkish Cypriot land owners, who believe that their plots are affected.
In August 202
3, 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, an understanding was reached which provides that 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.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Source: Cyprus News Agency