Nicosia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment for continuous cooperation and close coordination with UNFICYP for the effective implementation of its mandate. The position is outlined in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Reports of the UN Secretary-General on his Good Offices Mission and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, in which the Ministry also expressed disappointment that the UN’s policy equates serious Turkish violations with legitimate activities of citizens in the buffer zone. Additionally, it expressed disappointment that the report does not record the continuous reinforcement of the occupying army in the occupied areas.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reiterated the government’s readiness for the immediate commencement of negotiations, within the framework set by the Security Council Resolutions. The reports are expected to be discussed on Monday 14th July, just two days before a meeting the UNSG has convened on Cyprus, in a broader form, following the one in Geneva last March.
In the press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the unwavering commitment of the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to resume negotiations, aiming to achieve a sustainable and overall solution, based on the agreed framework and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The Government, it is noted, “reiterates its readiness for the immediate commencement of negotiations, within the framework set by the Security Council Resolutions and is methodically working to create the necessary conditions for this purpose.” In this context, it places particular importance on the implementation of the agreements from the expanded informal meeting of last March, in light of the upcoming expanded meeting in New York on July 16-17, 2025″.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government “fully shares the concern expressed by the Secretary-General regarding the developments in the enclosed area of Varosha. The Secretary-General reiterates Turkey’s responsibility and emphasises that the position of the United Nations, as stated in Resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992) of the Security Council, remains unchanged”. He also reiterates the importance of Turkey’s full compliance with these resolutions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the UNFICYP report once again records the violations of the occupying army in the buffer zone and its vicinity, which aim to undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and impose new facts on the ground. At the same time, it expresses disappointment because the longstanding policy of the UN to maintain neutrality may inadvertently create the impression of equating incidents of different nature and severity-such as serious Turkish military violations with legitimate activities of citizens within the buffer zone. It also expresses disappointment that the report does not document the ongoing strengthening and upgrading of the occupying forces in the occupied areas.
Regarding the humanitarian aspects of the UNFICYP mandate, the reports mention the issue of the enclaved and emphasise the need for increased efforts by UNFICYP to ensure they have decent living conditions. Similarly, the statement reiterates the ministry’s consistent position on the importance of clarifying the responsibilities of the occupation force in efforts to determine the fate of the missing persons and resolve this humanitarian issue.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing cooperation and close coordination with UNFICYP for the effective implementation of the mandate. Likewise, it added, the Cypriot government will continue to work closely and constructively with the Good Offices Mission, hoping for an immediate resumption of the negotiation process, which should lead to a fair and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
The UN Secretary-General, Ant³nio Guterres, announced in early May the re-appointment of Mara Angela Holgun Cu©llar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus. The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holgun.