The members of the UN Security Council who met on Tuesday and heard an update from the UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, on the situation in Cyprus, urged all involved parties to engage constructively in finding a way ahead on the settlement of the Cyprus issue in line with the recommendations of the Secretary General’s report and prepare well for the way ahead without unreasonable delays.
Sacha Sergio Llorenti Soliz, Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the United Nations and President of the Security Council told the press after the meeting that the members thanked the Secretary General for his report of October 25 and welcomed his decision to ask Jane Holl Lute to continue discussions with the parties with a view to achieving a consensus starting point for a possible negotiated conclusion to the Cyprus issue.
“They reiterated the importance of a comprehensive and durable settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation in line with Security Council resolutions, and their conviction that many benefits would flow from it,” he noted.
“They welcomed the intended commitment of the parties to reaching a mutually acceptable and durable solution and in that respect were encouraged by the meeting of the two leaders in Nicosia on 26 October 2018; in particular their agreement to open two crossing points on 12 November. They urged the two leaders to build on this positive step with further confidence-building measures as soon as possible; and noted the importance of civil society engagement, particularly women and youth,” said the President of the Security Council.
He added that the members reiterated their support for a Cypriot-led process and reaffirmed the primary role of the United Nations in assisting the parties to reach a settlement, recalling their previous resolutions on this issue.
“The Members of the Security Council urged all involved parties to engage constructively with openness and creativity in finding a way ahead on the settlement of the Cyprus issue in line with the recommendations of the Secretary General’s report and prepare well for the way ahead without unreasonable delays” he noted, adding that they looked forward to further updates on the progress of Holl Lute’s discussions with the parties.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
(Cyprus News Agency)
