Front Page Headlines
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- EU official: Varosha part of the solution
UNSG: Concern about Varosha due to lack of political settlement
Antonio Guterres is calling on the two sides to exert more efforts.
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- Antonio Guterres: He’s suggesting the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate, concerned about Varosha
Main News
UNSG recommends renewal of UNFICYP mandate
Alithia, Cyprus Mail, Haravgi, Phileleftheros, Politis
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
UN Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres has recommended the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate for a further six months and has stated his concern over Turkish activity in Varosha, the dailies report.
An informal copy of his report was handed out to the members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Friday, while Guterres’ report on his Good Offices Mission on the Cyprus issue is expected to be handed over later on.
In the report, Guterres said that in the light of the continued contribution of the force to peace and stability and to the creation of conditions conducive to a political settlement, he recommended a mandate extension until January 31, 2022.
He said that he has repeatedly stressed the importance of no unilateral actions being taken by the parties that could raise tensions on the island and compromise a return to talks, while also calling upon all parties to engage in dialogue in order to resolve their differences.
Developments in Varosha are perhaps the most illustrative of such challenges in the absence of a political settlement, Guterres said. “I reiterate my concern over developments in the fenced-off area of the town and recall that the position of the United Nations remains unchanged,” he said.
Guterres addressed the increasingly prominent issue of the north’s call for formal recognition, to which he said: “While the UN policy on Cyprus is maintained and decisions of the Security Council on the matter are upheld, concerns about recognition should not in themselves constitute an obstacle to increased cooperation.”
He also expressed his regret that no mechanism has been established for direct military contacts between the communities, saying that he remains convinced that it would allow the parties to effectively alleviate day-to-day tensions in and around the Buffer Zone, and would constitute an important military confidence-building measure (CBM). The report also cited the “unprecedented” deployment of new surveillance technology along the Buffer Zone as a destabilising factor.
Guterres added that regardless of the status of the peace process, CBMs can provide hope and help to narrow the growing divide between the two communities. He said he encourages the two sides to put forward in good faith proposals and ideas for possible new measures, or to review past proposals, so that discussions and progress may be further pursued. Given the complex regional environment and its impact on Cyprus, he also called on relevant actors in the region to exercise restraint, explore CBMs and take constructive approaches to resolving their disputes.
“It is important that the parties demonstrate their goodwill and make greater efforts to create conditions conducive to a political settlement,” he added.
He said he also deplored the restrictions on the freedom of movement of UNFICYP in Strovilia and requested that the ability of the mission to patrol and implement its mandated activities be fully restored. The mandate provided by the UNSC to UNFICYP was not limited to the Buffer Zone but extends to the entire island, the UNSG said.
Meanwhile, Phileleftheros reports that an EU official told reporters during an informal briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council session to take place in Brussels on Monday that the EU’s position regarding Varosha is clear and that no other arrangement other than that provided for in UNSC resolutions can be accepted. The official said that the EU will not accept any unilateral action by Turkey and highlighted that the EU believes that Varosha must be part of a comprehensive Cyprob solution.
The dailies also report that TC leader Ersin Tatar said that during his visit to the north on July 20, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will issue strong messages.
KEY ACTORS
Guterres (UN)
>> In informal report on UNFICYP, recommends six-month renewal of mandate due to its continued contribution to peace and stability and to the creation of conditions conducive to a political settlement
>> Repeatedly stressed the importance of no unilateral actions being taken by the parties that could raise tensions on the island and compromise a return to talks
>> Calls upon all parties to engage in dialogue in order to resolve their differences
>> Developments in Varosha, regarding which he is concerned, are perhaps the most illustrative of challenges that exist in the absence of a political settlement
>> UN position regarding Varosha remains unchanged
>> Though UN policy on Cyprus & UNSC decisions are upheld, the north’s concerns for recognition should not in themselves constitute an obstacle to increased cooperation
>> Regrets that no mechanism in the form of a CBM has been established for direct military contacts between the communities, since it would allow the parties to effectively alleviate day-to-day tensions in and around the Buffer Zone
>> Unprecedented deployment of new surveillance technology along the Buffer Zone is a destabilising factor
>> Regardless of the status of the peace process, CBMs can provide hope and help to narrow the growing divide between the two communities & two sides should put forward in good faith proposals and ideas for possible new measures, or to review past proposals, so that discussions and progress may be further pursued
>> Given the complex regional environment and its impact on Cyprus, relevant actors in the region should exercise restraint, explore CBMs and take constructive approaches to resolving disputes
>> Deplores restrictions on the freedom of movement of UNFICYP in Strovilia & requests that the ability of the mission to patrol and implement its mandated activities be fully restored