New York: Diplomatic strategies are underway at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) surrounding the renewal of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mandate. Turkey is reportedly maneuvering to gain support for its stance on the Cyprus issue, mainly through its collaboration with Pakistan within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
According to Cyprus News Agency, sources from the UN have revealed that the Turkish Permanent Mission is working to present the situation in Pyla in a neutral manner in the draft resolution. This resolution is scheduled for adoption on Friday, January 31. Additionally, Turkey is attempting to emphasize the need for increased intercommunal transactions, contacts, and trade in the resolution text.
The European Union countries that are members of the Security Council, including France, Slovenia, and Denmark, along with Greece, are steadfast in their support for Cyprus’s positions. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, as the penholder, aims to draft a ”
balanced” text. Sources within the Security Council indicate that the UK’s primary focus is on securing the broadest possible support for UNFICYP and minimizing the politicization of the issue.
French Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, expressed France’s support for Cyprus to CNA. He stated the importance of UNFICYP’s continued presence in Cyprus due to the unresolved situation, emphasizing the need for the Security Council to adopt the resolution. Ambassador de Rivière highlighted the challenge posed by differing objectives between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, especially with the Turkish Cypriot community, backed by Turkey, advocating for a two-state solution.
Regarding the potential visit of UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo to Nicosia, UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric mentioned that travel announcements of UN officials are made official from specific platforms and that any visit would be announced in due course.
Cyprus
has been divided since 1974 following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Despite numerous rounds of UN-led peace talks, a resolution remains elusive. The most recent negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without a conclusion.