UN Special Representative in Cyprus Khassim Diagne met with President Nikos Christodoulides on Friday to discuss UNFICYP’s role on the island in the months ahead.
This was their first meeting since the UN Security Council renewed the UN Peacekeeping Force’s mandate in January. Diagne also plans to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman on Monday, March 30, at 11am.
Avoiding regional miscalculations
The UNFICYP head is keen to maintain open communication with both sides to prevent new tensions, avoid the escalation of existing tensions, and reduce the risk of any miscalculations.
According to reliable sources, with the build of military assets in and around the island as a result of the ongoing war in the region, all interested parties have expressed concern about the militarisation of the island – though usually in reference to the ‘other’ side.
Given the arrival of four F-16s from Greece, six F-16s from Turkey, numerous fighter jets and helicopters from the UK, the deployment of air defence systems across the island and considerable European and British naval assets around it, sources said Diagne reassured the President that the UN is monitoring all security developments taking place on both sides of the island and keeping channels open to avoid any miscalculations.
Although Cyprus has said it plays a coordinating role for the European military and naval assets here to provide a protective umbrella around the island, it is highly possible that – as NATO members – these European countries are also coordinating with the UK and Turkey under a common NATO mechanism to avoid any ‘miscalculation’ in response to potential missile or drone threats from Iran or Hezbollah.
Avoiding buffer zone incidents
UNFICYP has been tasked by the UN Security Council to step up efforts and take preventative action to avoid the risk of incidents taking place in the buffer zone that could negatively impact the political process.
Speaking after his meeting with the President, Diagne said the UN peacekeeping mission’s priorities in the coming months are:
1) Strengthened operational effectiveness and resilience in the context of a challenging financial environment.
2) Ensuring consistent patrolling coverage across the buffer zone.
3) Restoring support to affected intercommunal activities where possible.
4) Maintaining UNFICYP’s role as a stabilising presence on the island, therefore contributing efforts towards the political process.
On patrolling the buffer zone, Diagne said: “We are putting more static presence in some sensitive areas of the buffer zone. We are patrolling the area day and night, both from the military police and civilian personnel.”
Regarding “sensitive” areas of the buffer zone, the UNFICYP head said he has made it a “number one priority to make sure the buffer zone is incident free” – acknowledging, however, that zero incidents might not be possible.
The UN Secretary-General’s recent reports on UNFICYP repeatedly called out the build up of military constructions taking place along the ceasefire lines by both sides. This remains a concern of the UN which is keen to avoid further militarisation along the buffer zone.
According to sources, Diagne also briefed Christodoulides on what is being done to address some of the tensions across the buffer zone, primarily related to farming issues, and updated him on the support the peacekeeping force provides in technical committees.
Speaking after the meeting, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said: “The government will continue to cooperate constructively with the peacekeeping force so that it can effectively carry out its mandate.”
He said the President discussed with Diagne “the ongoing violations by the occupying army in the buffer zone, the need to reverse the unlawful actions in the fenced‑off area of Varosha,” regional developments and Christodoulides’ recent meeting with the UN Secretary‑General in Brussels.
The elusive political process
On the political process, the Special Representative remains in close contact with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy María Angela Holguín, although there is no indication as to when she might return to the island. Sources said the UN Personal Envoy remains fully engaged and is in telephone contact with both sides.
The two leaders’ negotiators also continue to talk and have also met with the chairs of some Technical Committees, including Health (regarding foot-and-mouth disease), Gender Equality and Cultural Heritage.
Speaking to reporters, Letymbiotis said the President has requested a new meeting with Erhürman in April and is waiting for a reply.
Asked by one reporter how progress can be achieved in the “climate created” by the Turkish Cypriot leader through his social media posts, the government spokesperson replied: “This is a question that should not be addressed to us but to Mr. Erhürman – how he believes such statements, the tone, intensity, and frequency contribute to the UN Secretary‑General’s effort.”
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pledged not to give up on Cyprus until his last day in office. However, it remains to be seen whether the sides can shake the dormant process to life before Guterres leaves his post at the end of this year or not.