Source: CNA
The UN is trying to keep the two sides in Cyprus closer in order to reach an agreement for the benefit of all involved. The situation we are in is not due to the lack of UN involvement, the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, has said.
Dujarric who was answering a question during the press briefing held at UN Headquarters said that the Secretary-General is not the sole player in the process.
Reports of the Secretary-General reflect the reality as we see it, “and that’s how we report all the time”, he added. “I’m not going to analyze, do a sort of post-game analysis of the reports. The reports are the reports. They speak for themselves. Whether it’s a report on Cyprus or anywhere else in the world. We often get criticized by some of the parties involved. But, you know, the reports continue, and they stand for themselves”.
Dujarric further noted that “we’ve always been very clear that it’s imperative for both sides in Cyprus to respect and abide by the UN, by all relevant Security Council resolutions”.
Replying to another question, Dujarric said that “the Cyprus issue is one that the United Nations has been dealing with for a long time. It is one that three Secretaries-General have been dealing with directly. They have sometimes involved themselves in the Cyprus issue more than other issues faced by the UN. The situation we find ourselves in is not for the lack of involvement by the United Nations. We continue to try to bring the parties closer, to get to an agreement for the benefit of all the people involved. But I don’t think the Secretary-General is the sole player in all of this. And I will leave it at that”.