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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, the UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Ms. Catherine Pollard and the Head of the Office of Military Affairs, General Birame Diop.
During the meeting, the Minister conveyed the thanks of the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides for the work of the United Nations in maintaining peace and security in Cyprus, as well as for its long-standing contribution to the Republic of Cyprus through the Peacekeeping Force on the island.
Mr. Yiorgallas presented specific visual footage of the recent violations of the status quo by the Turkish occupying forces in the dead zone in the area of Agios Dometios and told his interlocutors, inter alia, that these Turkish actions are aimed, on the one hand, at challenging the jurisdiction of control that the Peacekeeping Force has over the dead zone and, on the other hand, at advancing the occupying forces to points of strategic value.
He also stressed that the Republic of Cyprus considers the incident as a continuation of the violations and provocative actions that took place in the Pyla area last August, with the unprovoked violent attacks by the occupying army against the members and assets of the Peace Force.
With regard to the understanding reached on the settlement of the Pyla incident, the Minister conveyed the great disappointment of the Cyprus Government at the withdrawal of the other side and stressed the Republic's expectation that the incidents of challenging the status quo, as well as the unprovoked attacks on UN personnel, would be recorded in the reports of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus.
Mr. Yiorgallas also briefed UN officials on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus Government's initiative to establish a maritime corridor to channel 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 that the Cyprus Government, while awaiting the appointment of a UN envoy for 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.
(AF/NZ)
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