Buttenheim hosted a farewell reception in the buffer zone

The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim, whose term of office in the island has ended, hosted a farewell reception in the buffer zone. President Mustafa Akıncı was also present at the reception at Ledra Palace Hotel.

In her speech at the reception, Buttenheim said “The two crossings agreed by the leaders last year, Derinya and Lefke Aplıç, are both moving ahead”. Maybe not as quickly as we might have hoped, she added, “but they are both moving ahead and I can say that because I know.” Buttenheim expressed the point of view that “the opening of crossings makes a huge positive difference to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.” At the same time she expressed gratitude of the “painstaking and dangerous” work done by the Cambodian demining teams without which, she said, the opening of crossings would not have been possible. Buttenheim also said that “today, Cyprus is closer to a solution than it has been in a long while.” “To depart when the talks are going well with two leaders who are deeply committed to reunifying this island, renews my conviction that a comprehensive, just and sustainable settlement is possible and truly within reach,” she noted. The UN official also referred to the role of civil society in the Cyprus reunification process pointing out that “negotiations may take place at the political table but reconciliation must take place within the hearts of people.” She referred, in particular to the Home for Cooperation, which is located across from Ledra Palace in the buffer zone and operates as a hub where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can meet professionally and socially as well as the Centre for Visual Arts and Research located in the old city of Nicosia which is the only bi-communal museum in Cyprus. The “Cyprus` vibrant civil society has been at the centre of activities to build a culture of peace on the island and I have been privileged to work with so many of you”, she said.