The UN Security Council has welcomed the appointment of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to assume a good offices role on his behalf and further encouraged the sides to engage constructively with the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar in the search for common ground with the goal of returning to formal negotiations for a lasting settlement in Cyprus. The Council adopted on Tuesday a resolution by which it extended the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mandate for one more year, until January 31, 2025.
Nicosia, has welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution, noting among the important issues included in it the reconfirmation of the basis of a solution, that is the bizonal, bicommunal federation, the fact that the SC has welcomed the appointment of the UNSG’s Personal envoy and the support expressed to her mission, the condemnation of the assault against UN personnel at Pyla and other violations in the buffer zone, as well as the references on the issue of Tu
rkish occupied Varosha. The Council reaffirmed in its resolution all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, in particular resolution 1251 (1999) and recalled the importance of achieving an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in relevant Security Council resolutions.
Moreover it expressed full support to the Secretary-General’s ongoing engagement with the sides and encouraged further rounds of informal talks, reiterating the importance of the sides and all involved participants ‘approaching this process in the spirit of openness, flexibility and compromise and showing the necessary political will and commitment to freely negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement under United Nations auspices, and continues to urge the sides to engage actively and without further delay with the Secretary-General and his team to this end.’
As regards Varosha the UNSC recalled their status as set out in relevant resolutions, including resolution
s 550 (1984)and 789 (1992), and its Presidential Statement which condemns the 20 July 2021 announcement by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders on the further reopening of a part of the fenced-off area of Varosha.
Furthermore, it expressed deep regret regarding the continuation of unilateral actions that run contrary to its previous resolutions and statements on Varosha and called for the immediate reversal of this course of action and of all steps taken on Varosha since October 2020.
The Security Council also said that it deeply regretted the ongoing disregard of this call for immediate reversal, cautioned against any further actions in relation to Varosha that are not in accordance with its resolutions and emphasised that any further unilateral action may prompt a response from the Security Council.
It also stressed once again the need to avoid any unilateral actions that could raise tensions on the island and undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement.
As regards Pyla, the UNSC recalled its press
statement of 21 August 2023 which condemns the assaults against UN peacekeepers and damage to UN vehicles ‘by Turkish Cypriot personnel’ on 18 August 2023, and expressed regret for the pause in all work that got underway in Pyla after the understanding that was achieved, urging all parties concerned to work constructively with UNFICYP to implement the understanding as an important confidence building measure.
Moreover the Council condemned ‘the continued violations of the military status quo along the ceasefire lines, the reported encroachment by both sides into the Buffer Zone and the risks associated, the challenges to the mission’s delineation of the Buffer Zone and the reported increase in number and severity of military violations and unauthorised construction,’ which, as it noted, ‘poses significant challenges to UNFICYP’s operations and mandated authority.’
It strongly urged the sides and all involved parties to respect UNFICYP’s mandated authority in and delineation of the buffer zone and to refrain
from unilateral actions in contravention thereof, noted that it recognises UNFICYP’s delineation of the buffer zone and ‘expressed particular concern over the reported trend of repeated move forward violations across the northern ceasefire line and challenges to the status quo of the buffer zone in certain areas.’
The UNSC expressed concern at the continuing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, and underlined that disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with applicable international law, reiterated the Secretary-General’s previous call to avoid escalatory steps, and further called upon the leaders of the two Cypriot communities and all involved parties to refrain from any actions and rhetoric that might damage the settlement process and that could raise tensions on the island.
The Council requested the Secretary-General to submit two reports, by 4 July 2024 and 3 January 2025 respectively, on his Good Offices, in particular on progress towards reaching a consensus starting point for meaningfu
l results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement, and encouraged the leaders of the two communities to provide written updates every six months to the Good Offices Mission of the Secretary-General on the actions they have taken in support of the relevant parts of the resolution since its adoption.
It further requested the Secretary-General to submit two reports, by 4July 2024 and 3 January 2025 respectively, on the implementation of the resolution.
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.
Last August, Turkish Cypriots punched and kicked a grou
p of international peacekeepers who obstructed crews illegally working on a road that would encroach on a UN controlled buffer zone in the area of Pyla, in the Larnaca district.
The international community, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, condemned August’s attack. Later on, an understanding was reached which provides that a single urban development area would be created. Works, that begun based on this understanding, were temporarily halted to resolve complaints by some Turkish Cypriot land owners, who believe that their plots are affected.
Further violations occurred in December 2023, when Turkish occupation forces entered the buffer zone in the area of Agios Dometios, and installed on an uninhabited residence there a metal mast, on which a rotating camera and antenna were mounted.
Source: Cyprus News Agency