Cyprus requests from UN restoration of status quo in Ag. Dometios buffer zone
FILE PHOTO: UNFICYP took action to stop a new violation of the buffer zone in Agios Dometios area via twitter
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN, Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, has sent a letter to UN officials requesting that the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), ensure the reversal of the violation in the buffer zone in the Agios Dometios area in Nicosia and the restoration of the status quo ante.
In a post on “X”, Hadjichrysanthou said that, upon instructions, he has sent a letter to the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, “requesting that UNFICYP ensures the reversal of the violation at “Maria’s House” and the restoration of the status quo ante”.
He added that it was “crucial that the UN sends strong messages to Türkiye on this urgent matter”.
On Monday afternoon, the Turkish occupation forces entered the buffer zone, which is UN-controlled land separating the northern Turkish-occupied areas from the southern government-controlled part of the country, in the area of Agios Dometios, and installed on an uninhabited residence there, known as “Maria’s House”, a metal mast on which a rotating camera and antenna were mounted.
On Wednesday afternoon, UNFICYP took action to stop a new violation of the buffer zone in Agios Dometios area, after men of the Turkish occupation army entered the buffer zone in a military vehicle.
Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Wednesday that the measures decided by the Republic of Cyprus in response to the Turkish violations in the buffer zone would be implemented as of Thursday morning.
These incidents follow another one last August when Turkish Cypriots punched and kicked a group of international peacekeepers who obstructed crews illegally working on a road that would encroach on a U.N.-controlled buffer zone in the area of Pyla, in the Larnaca district.
The international community, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, condemned August’s attack. Later on, an understanding was reached provided that a single urban development area would be created, which would ensure the harmonious coexistence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the area of Pyla. Works, that began based on this understanding, were temporarily halted earlier this month to resolve complaints by some Turkish Cypriot landowners, who believe that their plots are affected.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous peace talks under the UN aegis with the aim of reuniting the island under a federal roof failed to yield results. The latest round of talks took place in the summer of 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.
Upon instructions, I have sent a letter to @Lacroix_UN and @DicarloRosemary requesting that UNFICYP ensures the reversal of the violation at “Maria’s House” and the restoration of the status quo ante
Crucial that the UN sends strong messages to Türkiye on this urgent matter pic.twitter.com/bX57p3vhsc
— Andreas Hadjichrysanthou (@AHadjichrysanth) November 29, 2023
CNA/EAN/MK/2023
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
Ακολουθήστε τη HELLAS JOURNAL στη NEWS GOOGLE