We have the best opportunity for positive movement since 2017, Stewart says

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus Colin Stewart has said that there is now the best opportunity since 2017 to get some positive movement on issues that people care about, such as the opening of new crossing points.

In statements after a 17 December meeting he had with Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, Stewart said that they discussed about how things can move forward as regards the opening of new crossing points. 

He said that Tatar "reiterated that for them it is very important to address the Pyla road situation. I told him it was important also for me," he added.

Stewart recalled that he will be traveling to New York in January to brief the Security Council for the mandate renewal of the peacekeeping mission and described his meeting with Tatar as very constructive.

"We discussed all sorts of things. We discussed in particular the outcome of the meeting in October with the Secretary-General and the follow up that we all know about, the discussions we have been having on crossing points and we discussed that, how we can move that forward. Of course, he reiterated that for them it is very important to address the Pyla road situation. I told him it was important also for me," he noted. 

"And we talked about the possibility of some more meetings to move things forward. So I think that all in all it was a constructive conversation," he added.

He went on to say that on the whole, he is feeling a little bit positive, "because I think this is the best opportunity we've had since 2017 to actually get some positive movement on issues that people care about, whether it's crossing points or the Pyla road and prepare for the next meeting which has been agreed between the Secretary-General and the two leaders with the guarantor powers."

"No date has been set yet for that. But we want to do this advance work so that we can create better conditions for that meeting. And so I think everybody agrees that this is important and l am feeling good about the work that we have in front of us," Stewart concluded.

The UN official had met earlier in the morning with Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides.

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.

On October 15, 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted an informal dinner with President Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar in New York, encouraging “the leaders to consider how to bridge the gap in their positions and rebuild trust to allow movement leading to a settlement.”

In a readout following the meeting, the UN Chief’s spokesperson said “the leaders agreed to have an informal meeting in a broader format in the near future, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, to discuss the way forward. They also agreed to meet in Cyprus to explore the possibility of opening new crossings.”

In August 2023, the Turkish Cypriot side unilaterally announced its intention to build a 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, an understanding was reached which provides that 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.

(Source: CNA)