Nicosia: UN peacekeepers have increased patrols and maintained a visible presence on the ground after Turkish Cypriot security personnel were observed entering the United Nations buffer zone without authorization, according to UNFICYP spokesperson, Aleem Siddique. Responding to a question from the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) regarding the recent developments in the buffer zone in Pyla, Siddique emphasized that there have been no clashes, contrary to some media reports, and that the situation remains calm.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Siddique stated that UNFICYP is actively engaging with all relevant parties to restore the status quo ante and prevent any actions that could disrupt peace and stability in the area. He reiterated that maintaining calm and stability across the buffer zone is UNFICYP's highest priority.
The situation on the Pyla plateau is calm, with UNFICYP peacekeepers present and monitoring the situation. Siddique stressed that unauthorized entry, presence, or activity within the buffer zone violates the Mission's mandate and emphasized the importance of respecting the Mission's mandate to maintain stability in this sensitive area.
Siddique also conveyed the message of Khassim Diagne, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNFICYP, urging calm and restraint in Pila while respecting the UNFICYP mandate.
Cyprus has remained divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous UN-led peace talks aimed at reuniting the island under a federal structure have failed, with the last round of negotiations taking place in the summer of 2017 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. In August 2023, Turkish Cypriots attacked a group of international peacekeepers who were preventing crews from illegally working on a road that would encroach on a UN-controlled buffer zone in Pyla, Larnaca district. This incident, along with similar violations, has been condemned by the international community, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.