UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has pledged the UN’s unwavering commitment to work with both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to find a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus.
In a message, posted by the UN Peacekeeping on platform X on Monday, Guterres is quoted as saying that “for 60 years, the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has worked to help reduce tensions, resolve issues and better lives…”
This milestone, he added, “is also an opportunity to reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the UN to both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to work with them to find a mutually acceptable solution for the benefit of all those on the island”.
In its post, the UN Peacekeeping, noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of UNFICYP and extends “gratitude to the 150,000+ peacekeepers who have served with the mission and honour the 187 peacekeepers who lost their lives in the cause of peace”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated ro
unds 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.
Source: Cyprus News Agency