UNSG encourages leaders in UNFICYP report

 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has encouraged the two leaders in Cyprus to maintain the momentum of the Cyprus talks and to continue their efforts to bring the process to a successful conclusion.

In his report on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, (UNFICYP), Ban Ki-moon notes that “at this critical juncture in the peace process and with encouraging prospects for an early solution, I count on Cyprus’ international partners to show commitment and resolve in supporting in any way possible initiatives and projects that build trust between the communities and foster support for a solution from the ground up.”

In this regard, he adds, “I am particularly grateful for the sustained partnership between the United Nations and the European Union in support of confidence-building measures and other projects and initiatives, in particular crossing points, support to the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the Committee on Missing Persons.”

The UN chief says he is “heartened by the steady determination shown by the leaders in the intensified phase of the negotiations.”

“I encourage them to maintain the momentum and to continue their efforts to bring the process to a successful conclusion and reach a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible”, he points out.

Referring to the confidence building measures he expresses his “firm belief that measures to build confidence are an important element of the current efforts, in that they reflect the common position of the leaders that the status quo is unacceptable.”

Regarding the decision to open additional crossing points at Lefke – Aplıç and Derinya, he encourages “both leaders to expedite preparations and open the crossings without delay.”

According to Ban Ki-moon “the incidents raised concerns about the role of education in perpetrating prejudice and misconceptions and, by contrast, the role education can play, if addressed appropriately, in promoting a culture of peaceful coexistence.”

“In this regard, I praise the leaders for their political vision and courage in establishing a Technical Committee on Education and I urge them to appoint its members without delay,” he notes.

Among others he refers to the progress of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) noting that as at 18 December, out of a total of 2001 missing persons on the official list, the Committee’s bi-communal teams of archaeologists had exhumed the remains of 1,059 missing persons on both sides of the island.

“To date, the remains of 625 individuals have been identified and returned to their respective families, including 30 during the reporting period,” he says.

Ban Ki-moon also welcomes the confirmation of President Mustafa Akıncı, that the CMP excavation teams will have access to 30 suspected burial sites in military areas in North Cyprus.

“I continue to call 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 a view to encouraging trade,” he points out, adding that “such contacts promote trust between the communities and help to address the Turkish Cypriots’ concerns of isolation.”

Referring to the ongoing dialogue between the religious leaders he notes that it “contributes positively to the climate surrounding the talks”.

“In the critical months ahead, I strongly encourage both sides to continue to support this cooperation including enabling full access for worship to the more than 500 churches and other places of worship in the north and the some 100 mosques in the south”, Ban Ki-moon adds