Nicosia, Cyprus. UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said regular interaction with the Turkish Cypriot side is important and helpful for the United Nations. He made the comments after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.
UN highlights Unficyp mandate
Lacroix said contact between the Turkish Cypriot side and the UN helps the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) fulfil its “very critical” mandate. He said Unficyp’s role is to preserve calm in the buffer zone, prevent incidents, and work with the sides to de-escalate when incidents occur.
De-escalation linked to political process
Lacroix said de-escalation is critical because preserving calm allows the political process and talks between the sides to continue. He added that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has offered “very strong support and commitment” to efforts aimed at political progress on the Cyprus problem.
Meeting with Erhurman
Lacroix said he valued the opportunity to discuss and share views, and to ensure continued interaction with the Turkish Cypriot side. Erhurman’s office said “recent developments and current issues were discussed” during the meeting.
What role do you think regular UN contact with both sides should play in preventing incidents in the buffer zone?