Top UN official to meet Cyprus President and Turkish Cypriot Leader

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix Lacroix arrives in Cyprus at noon Wednesday for a three day visit and is scheduled to hold separate meetings in the afternoon with Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, at the Presidential Palace at 1530 and with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in the Turkish occupied areas of the island at 1700.

Lacroix will also visit the buffer zone in Pyla area on Thursday afternoon with a view to see the situation on the ground and the works taking place there, in the framework of an Understanding reached, after the incidents that took place in August.

The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) has learnt that during his stay in Cyprus, Lacroix will also have meetings in Ledra Palace with representatives of the civil society, and specifically with women and youth organisations.

Moreover, he will meet with the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) officers with a view to be informed and discuss with them the operation and the activities of the force.

In August 2023, the Turkish Cypriot side unilaterally announced its intention to build the road through the buffer zone between the villages of Pyla and occupied Arsos. Turkish Cypriots and settlers entered the buffer zone and attacked personnel and vehicles of UNFICYP. A peacekeeper was punched in the face.

The international community, including five permanent members of the UN Security Council, condemned the attack. Later on, discussions began aiming at resolving the issue.

According to an understanding that has been reached for Pyla, a single urban development area will be created, which will ensure the harmonious coexistence of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the area of Pyla and, will include, among other things, a large area of residential development, the paving of a road leading towards Troulloi village, the creation of photovoltaic parks and the expansion of the urban use area of the village.

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.