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- Ελληνικά
Today marks 60 years since the adoption of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 186 on 4 March 1964, which established the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a series of events, honoured the contribution of the UN peacekeepers who have served in Cyprus over the past six decades, as well as all UN Member States who have contributed and continue to contribute with their personnel to the peacekeeping force.
On Friday, 1 March 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Press and Information Office, honoured the contribution of the 150,000 peacekeepers from the 43 UN Member States who have served in UNFICYP at a special event at the Old Nicosia Town Hall.
In the presence of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SG) and Head of UNFICYP, Mr. Colin Stewart, the entire leadership of the Peacekeeping Force and representatives of the national detachments, the Foreign Minister referred to the establishment of the Force with an initial three-month mandate, adding that especially during the 1974 Turkish invasion the contribution of UNFICYP was extremely important. He added that immediately after the Turkish invasion, UNFICYP assisted UNHCR, the Red Cross and other international organizations in providing assistance to refugees, while working to free prisoners and locate missing persons. Mr. Kombos then referred to the role of the United Nations in monitoring the ceasefire line, adding that UNFICYP remains to date the main point of contact regarding the trapped people. He noted that UNFICYP supports the Good Offices Mission of the UN Secretary General in its efforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem. In conclusion, the Foreign Minister underlined that until a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem is reached, the contribution of the Peace Force was and remains indispensable.
In the framework of the event, a photographic exhibition was presented covering the entire 60 years of the Force's involvement in peacekeeping in Cyprus. The exhibition, which includes important archival material, is accompanied by a special commemorative publication of the Press and Information Office on the 60th anniversary of UNIFCYP.
The event was attended by, among others, the Mayor of Nicosia Mr. Konstantinos Yiorkatzis, who delivered a welcome address, the Deputy Minister of European Affairs Mrs. Marilena Raouna, the Chief of the General Staff of the National Guard Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas and the Director of the Press and Information Office Mrs. Aliki Stylianou.
In addition, a solemn ceremony was held today, Monday 4 March 2024, at the monument erected in Kosi in honour of three Austrian peacekeepers who lost their lives in a bombing by the Turkish Air Force on 14 August 1974.
The ceremony, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the National Guard, was attended and addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Konstantinos Kombos, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNFICYP Mr. Colin Stewart and the Chief of the General Staff of the National Guard Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas. Also present were the leadership of the Peacekeeping Force, as well as the Austrian Ambassador-designate to Cyprus, Ms Susanne Bachfischer.
In a statement, the Foreign Minister said that, as a host country, we pay tribute today to the 150,000 peacekeepers who have served in Cyprus over the past 60 years. "In particular, we pay tribute to the fallen peacekeepers and stand at the memorial to the three Austrian peacekeepers who were killed on 14 August 1974 by Turkish bombing. On behalf of the Republic of Cyprus and all its people, we express our sincere gratitude. The mission of the Peacekeeping Force is particularly difficult and it has made a substantial and multifaceted contribution to peacekeeping," he said. In conclusion, after noting that the message is twofold, he stressed that the Peace Force should be left free to complete its mission in accordance with the terms of its mandate, and secondly, he underlined that "we are waiting, waiting, expecting and working for the day when its presence here will no longer be necessary."
(MF/EP)
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