French UN ambassador says Cyprus settlement solution exists
France’s UN ambassador Jerome Bonnafont backed efforts by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resume Cyprus talks.
Nicosia, Cyprus. A solution to the Cyprus problem exists, France’s ambassador to the United Nations Jerome Bonnafont said, voicing support for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts to secure a substantive resumption of negotiations.
He said confidence-building measures and respect for the buffer zone were among the conditions needed to restart positive discussions.
Support for UN efforts
In comments to Greece’s Athens Macedonian News Agency, Bonnafont said France believes a solution exists and that its underlying principles are known.
“The challenge is to ensure that those who are in a position to bring about this solution do what is necessary,” he said.
Bonnafont said Guterres plays a key role through his good offices, assisted by his personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin. He said France supports the secretary-general’s efforts, including his visit to Cyprus in late July.
Conditions for renewed talks
Bonnafont said confidence-building measures should be implemented, noting that Holguin has described them as an indispensable condition ahead of an enlarged meeting on the Cyprus problem.
He also said the integrity of the buffer zone must be maintained. Guterres expressed deep concern in July over advances by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot personnel into the buffer zone near Pyla, while tensions were also heightened elsewhere, including west of Nicosia.
“The people must be assured that this will be respected,” Bonnafont said.
He said France had hoped that the new de facto authorities in the north, following elections held there last October, would be willing to engage in discussions with the Republic of Cyprus, but that this had not yet materialised.
French position
Bonnafont said the French government was doing everything it could to encourage Guterres in efforts to persuade the de facto authorities in the north and Turkey to take the necessary steps to restart positive discussions.
He said France’s impression was that the population wanted such an evolution and that political leadership would need courage to enter a new phase.
Bonnafont said France hoped Guterres would be able to meet them during the UN General Assembly and obtain new results.
Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman has insisted that trust must be built on the ground before substantive talks can begin.
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