-
.
- Ελληνικά
United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix held a press conference with accredited UN journalists yesterday, 08/03/2024.
He then answered questions from media representatives.
The Cypriot correspondent, referring to the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the ongoing tension in the buffer zone, according to Mr. Colin Stewart, asked Mr Lacroix what he thought about the work of the Force over the years.
Mr Lacroix said that when we look at the anniversary of UNFICYP there are obviously mixed feelings. On the one hand, because, on the one hand, there should be a political settlement for Cyprus, and that is ultimately what the United Nations is trying to do. At the same time, he continued, the role that UNFICYP has played over the years has been critical in terms of avoiding escalation in terms of contacts with the two sides.
He added that this is a case where the two parties need a mediator since they are not talking to each other, at least on the various issues that UNFICYP handles.
"I think this is an opportunity to pay tribute to the peacekeepers of UNFICYP for what they have done over the years and of course with the deaths, because this is the price they have paid. At the same time, we really urge for more progress in the political process so that we don't have to commemorate another such anniversary 60 years later," Lacroix concluded. Lacroix said that the UN is one, but on one side we have the political process with the Envoy of the Secretary General who is about to return to Cyprus and on the other side is the peacekeeping operation with our friend Colin Stewart, the head of that operation with the mandate which is basically to ensure that the ceasefire is maintained and does not lead to escalation and he is in constant contact with both sides for that purpose.
He added that this is really what UNFICYP is doing and of course it's critical to the political effort because if there is an escalation, if there is a threat to the ceasefire in Cyprus, then all the conditions for the continuation of the political effort will be seriously undermined. Because if we have another escalation obviously any political effort would be almost impossible, Lacroix concluded.
For the full text of the Q&A in English click here.
(MS/AF)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
