European Council President Charles Michel has condemned the assault by Turkish Cypriot personnel against members of UNFICYP on Friday, in a post on social media. Michel also said that he is contact with President Nikos Christodoulides and that de-escalating the situation is a priority.
“Strongly condemn the assault on @UN_CYPRUS #peacekeepers by Turkish Cypriot personnel in #Pyla today. Ensuring peacekeepers’ safety and deescalating the situation must remain a priority,” Michel wrote on the social media formerly known as Twitter.
“In contact w/ @Christodulides, following closely the situation and calling for peace in the area,” he added.
Personnel of the Turkish Cypriot side attacked UN peacekeepers in the buffer zone near Pyla village on Friday morning, the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) had said earlier in a press release condemning the assaults and calling on the Turkish Cypriot side to respect its mandated authority inside the buffer zone and to withdraw all personnel and machinery immediately.
UNFICYP was established by Security Council resolution 186 (1964), with a mandate “to prevent a recurrence of fighting and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions”. While the mandate of the Mission remains the same to date, its responsibilities evolved following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, to include supervising the ceasefire lines, maintaining a buffer zone, and facilitating inter-communal contacts.
Source: Cyprus News Agency