The Greek Foreign Ministry welcomes the agreement reached by the Republic of Cyprus and United Nations Peacekeeping Force on the Pyla area, expressing the hope that this development will speed up the appointment of a new UN Envoy to Cyprus and the resumption of the dialogue on the Cyprus problem. “Greece welcomes the reaching of an understanding after intensive and thorough consultations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force for the area north of Pyla,” the Foreign Ministry statement says. According to Athens, “the understanding ensures the maintenance of the status quo in the buffer zone, restores order and creates conditions for confidence building and rapprochement between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, promoting the development of the region for the benefit of all its inhabitants.” “Greece also welcomes the constructive role played by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNFICYP, Colin Stewart, in reaching the agreement in the framework of the UN Secretary General’s Good Offices Mission,” the Foreign Ministry added. “We hope that this positive development, which is due, among other things, to the constructive stance shown by the Republic of Cyprus, will expedite the appointment of a new UN Envoy to Cyprus and the resumption of dialogue on the solution of the Cyprus problem, within the framework of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions,” the statement concludes. In August 2023, 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, discussions began aiming at resolving the issue. An understanding was reached on arrangements that will resolve the ongoing situation on the Pyla/Pile plateau, according to a statement by Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Deputy Special Adviser on Cyprus (DSASG), Colin Stewart on October 9, 2023. 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.
Source: Cyprus News Agency