United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has praised the dedication and energy displayed by Greek and Turkish Cypriots in finding a solution, noting the positive momentum in the ongoing talks.

An unofficial copy of Ban`s report on UNFICYP, which requests the extension of its mandate six months, until end of January 2016, was submitted to the members of the UN Security Council Thursday evening.

Diplomatic sources point out that the positive atmosphere created by the good relationship between the leaders of the two communities, namely President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Mustafa Akinci, is reflected on the report.

It is expected that on July 22 there will be consultations on UNFICYP and briefings by UN Special Representative Lisa Buttenheim and UN Special Advisor Espen Barth Eide.

UNFICYP, one of the longest serving UN peace-keeping forces, arrived in Cyprus in March 1964, after intercommunal strife broke out between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities on the island.

Negotiations to reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, resumed in mid May between the leaders of the island`s two communities.

“I note the positive momentum surrounding the resumption of the talks as well as the energy and dedication displayed by both sides. I welcome the commitment expressed by the leaders to work tirelessly to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question as soon as possible. I encourage both leaders to grasp the current unique opportunity to create a peaceful, common future for the island. I intend to submit a detailed report on my good offices in the fall of 2015”, the Secretary General says.

He also welcomes the commitment by the leaders to seek early agreement on confidence building measures, and urges them “to take decisive and pragmatic steps towards tangibly implementing these measures in good faith and without delays”.

“The leaders’ agreement to measures such as the interconnecting of electricity grids and mobile telephone interoperability will, when they materialize, have a significant positive impact on the daily lives of people in both communities”, he adds.

In his report, the UNSG also states that the decision of the leaders to open additional crossing points is a particularly welcome development and one which has increasingly been called for by the communities at the grassroots level.

“I encourage the sides to agree on further suitable locations for crossing points. Likewise, I commend the decision of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Akıncı, to facilitate crossings by lifting the requirement to complete administrative forms at crossing points. UNFICYP will continue to lend its facilitation assistance, and to help coordinate works to realise new crossing points”, he added.

Ban also says that with the opening of new crossing points, which will require mine clearance around the ceasefire lines, a comprehensive approach to demining is now required and he calls on both leaders to intensify their efforts to that end, and to facilitate, without delay, access to all remaining mined areas in and outside the buffer zone, in line with Security Council resolution 2197 (2015), and to finally achieve a mine-free Cyprus.

Ban also reiterated his call for both sides, and their respective leaderships, the mayors and municipalities of Nicosia and the Nicosia Master Plan, “to adopt a holistic approach to the urban infrastructure of the old town through joint projects that could attract investment and thereby transform the wider area”.

“Together with the opening of new crossing points and a reduction in military personnel, such an approach could contribute to a greater sense of security and a return to normal conditions along the Green Line, as well as to promoting public confidence between the communities”, he says.

UNSG also encourages enhanced support by all concerned for their efforts to promote private sector initiatives that could have a positive effect on the continued regrettably low level of trade crossing the buffer zone, despite a reported 3.1 per cent increase in value in 2014.

“In previous reports, I have called upon both community leaders to exert efforts to create a climate conducive to achieving greater economic and social parity between the two sides and to widen and deepen economic, social, cultural, sporting or similar ties and contacts, including with a view to encouraging trade. Such contacts promote trust between the communities and help to address the Turkish Cypriots’ concerns of isolation. I am pleased to note that early steps in this direction are being taken by the leaders, and I urge them to continue to address these issues.”





