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- Ελληνικά
Defence Minister Michael Yiorgallas, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Member States of the United Nations (UN), met with the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Assistant Secretary General Catherine Pollard and the Head of the Office of Military Affairs, General Birame Diop. Nikos Christodoulides for the work carried out by the United Nations in maintaining peace and security in Cyprus, as well as for its long-term contribution to the Republic of Cyprus through the Peacekeeping Force on the island (UNFICYP).
Yiorgallas presented specific visual footage of the recent violations of the status quo by the Turkish occupation forces in the dead zone in the Agios Dometios area and reported, inter alia, to his interlocutors: "These Turkish actions are aimed, on the one hand, at challenging the jurisdiction of control of the Peace Force in the dead zone and, on the other hand, at advancing the occupation forces to points of strategic value."
He also stressed. Minister conveyed the great disappointment of the Cyprus Government at the withdrawal of the other side and stressed the expectation of the Republic of Cyprus to record the incidents of challenging the status quo, as well as the unprovoked attacks on UN personnel in the UN Secretary General's reports on Cyprus.
Mr. Yiorgallas also briefed the UN officials on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus Government's initiative to establish a maritime corridor for channelling humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as on the readiness to provide facilitation in case of evacuation operations of civilians from the war zones to safe areas.
In conclusion, the Defence Minister assured: "The Cyprus Government, while awaiting the appointment of a UN envoy on the Cyprus problem, remains firm in its commitment to make every effort to reach a lasting and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, a solution that will guarantee the security and prosperity of all Cypriots."
For their part, UN officials thanked the Republic of Cyprus for its positive attitude as host country of UNFICYP. They showed their understanding of the escalating situation and stressed that UNFICYP would continue to act within its mandate to create the appropriate conditions for a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus problem.
(NG/ASP)
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