Encourage more direct contacts and cooperation between them, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urges the two leaders in Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades and T/C leader Ersin Tatar, in his report on UNFICYP, expressing concern about the possibility of a deterioration of the already difficult climate between the two sides. Guterres proposes to the UNSC to renew the mandate of the peacekeeping force for another six months.
The unofficial document of the UN Secretary-General's report on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus covering the period from 16 December 2021 to 14 June 2022 was provided late on Tuesday afternoon (New York time) to the members of the The report on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) highlights the volatile internal political landscape on both sides of the island which has created additional challenges. Actions taken in and around the buffer zone by both parties, persistent obstacles to inter-communal trade, continued provocative rhetoric and lack of progress in addressing Security Council resolutions on the fenced part of Varosha have contributed to further strengthening mistrust.
In the Security Council report on UNFICYP, the Secretary-General urges the leaders of the two sides to encourage more direct contacts and cooperation between them, as requested by the Security Council and as a demonstration of their genuine commitment to a solution.
Cooperation between the two sides
The lack of progress towards the resumption of full negotiations creates room for new ground and provokes provocative unilateral actions that increase tensions. In this context, UNFICYP continues to face significant violations of the auxiliary mission memorandum.
As the Secretary-General of the Security Council stresses, he notes with concern that this situation may lead to systematic conflict that will aggravate the already difficult climate between the two sides.
Dead Zone
Furthermore, he calls on both sides to respect and abide by the United Nations demarcation of the buffer zone, which is the only demarcation recognized by the Security Council.
"The incursion by both sides into the buffer zone, mainly in the form of unauthorized construction, remains one of the main sources of tension. In addition to creating operational challenges for UNFICYP, these actions create a more hostile climate on the ground and between the sides and can pose security risks.
I recall the Security Council's request that all unauthorized structures within the neutral zone be removed and that both sides prevent unauthorized military and political activities within and along the ceasefire lines," the report stresses.
The report refers to a lack of progress in resolving the Cyprus problem, which has affected the work of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. "Decreased confidence and increased political tensions were associated with more actions by both sides that challenged the authorized authority of the mission and were always considered provocative by the other side."
Varosha
In relation to the status of Varosha, UNFICYP continues to be guided by relevant Security Council resolutions. As such, the Mission and the Secretariat have repeatedly expressed concern about developments in the walled part of the city. The United Nations continues to hold the Government of Turkey responsible for the situation in Varosha.
The Secretary-General reiterated his concern about recent developments in the fenced area of Varosha and the lack of response to the Security Council's call for a reversal of actions taken following the announcement of the partial reopening of the walled city in October 2020.
"I further recall the Council's resolutions on the Barossa, in particular resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992), and the importance of full compliance with them, stressing that the United Nations position on this issue remains unchanged. I also deplore the restrictions on UNFICYP's freedom of movement imposed in the region and elsewhere, such as in Strovilia, and call once again for the mission's ability to patrol and carry out its mandated activities to be fully restored. I recall that the mandate given by the Council to UNFICYP is not limited to the buffer zone but extends to the entire island.
Economy
The significant economic impact on the island of both the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, particularly on tourism, exacerbated an already difficult situation in the north caused by the devaluation of the Turkish lira, leading to limited access to trade and fears expressed of economic collapse. The economic gap between the two sides widened significantly, exacerbating political tensions and motivating illegal trafficking across the buffer zone.
"While both communities suffered from the socio-economic consequences of these crises, the Turkish Cypriot economy, which was already in a difficult position before the pandemic, deteriorated even further. I am concerned that, as a result, the economic gap between the two sides will continue to widen, a situation that fuels resentment and mistrust between the two communities, exacerbates the alienation of the two parts of the island and provides incentives for illegal trafficking through the Neutral Zone in both directions," the UNSG noted.
"The severe economic difficulties facing the northern part of Cyprus do not benefit any of the parties involved in the conflict, but instead hamper prospects for a settlement," he adds.
Trade in goods across the Green Line
Trade in goods across the Green Line was also negatively affected by the pandemic situation and the temporary suspension of some crossing points in 2020. According to the EU, there was a significant increase in the volume of trade in 2021. The total official value of goods crossing the Green Line in 2021 was estimated at €6,151,022. Compared to €4,693,898 in 2020, this represents an increase of 31%.
Missing Persons
Since the start of its work in 2006, the inter-communal teams of scientists of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), with the support of the United Nations and funding from donors, have been empowered to recover, locate and return the remains of those who disappeared during the events of 1963/64 and 1974, they have received the remains of 1.183 individuals on both sides of the island.
The European Union remains the main financial contributor to the Commission.
As of 26 April 2022, the Commission has identified 56 potential burial sites ready to be excavated. In 2022, the Commission conducted excavations at 5 of the 30 military sites in the north of the island to which access was granted in June 2019, with no recoveries during the reporting period.
To date, of the 2,002 missing persons, 1,026 have been officially identified and their remains have been returned to their families.
Asylum
As highlighted in the report, there is no doubt that the island is facing a real crisis in terms of the number of asylum seekers, refugees and irregular migrants arriving in large numbers compared to the size of the Cypriot population. However, the lack of access to asylum procedures in accordance with international law continues to exacerbate the problem and is of serious concern to the United Nations. According to the text of the report, the two sides are urged to cooperate and intensify their efforts to address the source of the problem.
The year 2021 ended with 1,296 asylum applications submitted in December in the Republic of Cyprus, bringing the total number of asylum applications to an unprecedented 13,235, compared to 7,094 in 2020, representing an 87% increase. The upward trend continued in the first quarter of 2022, with a total of 5,066 asylum applications filed by the end of March 2022, representing a 100% increase compared to the same period in 2021. In addition, approximately 16,000 Ukrainian nationals arrived in Cyprus between 1 February and 30 April 2022, of which 9,647 submitted applications for Temporary Protection.
The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude to his Special Representative, Head of UNFICYP and Deputy Special Advisor for Cyprus, Colin Stewart, for his leadership in the UN presence on the island.
Source: Cyprus Times
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