UNSG calls on all Cypriots to engage in future of the island

The UN secretary general’s mission of good offices report detailed a bleak review of and outlook for the Cyprus problem, despite a poll finding that a majority hope for a mutually agreed settlement as soon as possible.

The advance copy of UNSG Antonio Guterres’ report, dated January 3, found that significantly fewer respondents of those polled had confidence that a settlement could be reached.

Despite the difficulties, Guterres called on all Cypriots to actively engage in shaping the future of the island.

The good offices report echoed Guterres’ statements in his report on Unficyp, namely that “as long as the two communities remain apart and rely on divisive narratives to formulate their understanding of the other, it will be extremely difficult to achieve such reconciliation”.

Highlighting the widening gulf between the two sides, the report stated that: “Only genuine progress towards reaching a consensus starting point for meaningful, results oriented negotiations leading to a settlement will reassure Cypriots as well as the international community that a peaceful and shared future on the island truly remains possible”.

Repeated references to challenges such as the “polarised political environment” and “the overall climate [that] has become increasingly negative” highlighted the statement that: “The Crans Montana Conference in 2017… came closer than ever to a comprehensive strategic agreement”.

The reporting period began with a renewed commitment from the sides to move forward energetically with measures that would build trust between them as a means of creating conditions conducive for eventual settlement talks.

Beginning in October, however, hardening demands related to the status of the north and political rhetoric in the government-controlled areas in the context of electoral campaigning increased “perceived psychological barriers to cooperation”.

As for Unficyp, Gutteres is expected to recommend to the Security Council that the mandate of the force is extended for another six months, until the end of July.

The Security Council is to meet on January 30 to renew the mandate.

Strong emphasis was placed on the potential and actual work of the bi-communal technical committees as vehicles for progress.

The report stated that despite the deepening mistrust, some progress has nonetheless been achieved by the committees in reducing existing barriers to intercommunal contact and trade.

But the high importance placed on the 12 bi-communal technical committees was dampened by the report’s acknowledgement that uneven success and growing challenges later in the reporting period impeded potential progress.

The technical committee on economic and commercial matters came in for praise for its key role in broader efforts to increase Green Line Regulation trade volume, which reportedly reached record levels in 2022, albeit from a very low baseline.

The report highlighted, however, that the committee on education did not meet during the reporting period, and no projects were implemented. There was also no movement on intensifying efforts to promote peace education across the island.

It stated that: “It must remain the highest priority to implement projects that support the education of teachers and children on both sides of the island in a culture of peace, and to fight stereotyping and xenophobia. The fact that there has been only one meeting of the technical committee on humanitarian affairs since October 2021 and no substantive meetings of the technical committee on education since July 2021 is disappointing”.

As for confidence building measures, the report said that the two leaders are encouraged to create a more conducive environment for settlement.

“The proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders cover areas of potential benefit to both sides and may in turn contribute to the improved stability of the broader eastern Mediterranean region,” it stated.

Elsewhere, Guterres expressed his concern over unilateral action being taken both in and adjacent to the buffer zone that could raise tensions.

As for Varosha, he said that: “I reiterate my concern over developments in the fenced-off area of Varosha. The position of the United Nations on Varosha remains unchanged. I recall the decisions of the Security Council on the matter, notably resolutions 550 (1984) and 789 (1992), and I underscore the importance of adhering fully to those resolutions”.

Another challenge identified by the report is a lack of agreement on the role and modalities for the appointment of a UN envoy.