National Council to convene on Friday following UN reports’ submission

President Nikos Christodoulides is to convene the National Council on Friday, in light of the submission of reports on the state of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp) and the UN’s Good Offices in Cyprus by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the meeting had been convened for Christodoulides to inform the country’s political leadership about the reports and on his most recent meeting with UN envoy Maria Angela Holguin.

Guterres’ report on Unficyp expressed strong concerns over “significant” militarisation of the buffer zone, which he says undermines Unficyp’s peacekeeping efforts.

“This militarisation is seen as a significant destabilising factor and is in direct conflict with the stated intentions of both sides to move forward with peace talks,” the report said.

Violations include the “unauthorised military constructions and the advancement of military capabilities within and near the buffer zone”.

Among the main worries raised by Guterres was the installation of advanced surveillance technology along the buffer zone, which he said has “continued unabated”.

“During the period under review, the Republic of Cyprus erected surveillance cameras at 31 additional sites along the buffer zone, six of which are located inside the buffer zone in and around Nicosia, bringing the total of such installations by the Greek Cypriots to 79,” the report said.

“Turkish Forces installed four additional camera sites during the reporting period, bringing the total of its camera installations along the northern side of the buffer zone to 110,” the report said.

It added that the camera and satellite dish installed by the Turkish forces atop an abandoned house inside the buffer zone known as “Maria’s house” or “Neriman’s house” during the previous reporting period remained in place.

The Good Offices report was marginally more optimistic, with Guterres commending the resumption of meetings and discussions in the technical committees, especially those which had been dormant.

It also called for increased female and youth representation on the committees and added that they should be “protected and insulated from larger political discussions”.

“I once again echo the Security Council’s call for greater engagement with civil society and urge the two leaders to encourage contact and cooperation between the two communities,” Guterres said.

He further urged the two sides “to explore the concept of cooperation in sports to bring young people together and foster interaction between the two communities.”