The UN Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon calls on all sides in Cyprus to “make every effort to avoid raising tensions” concerning offshore activities for the exploitation of natural resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, adding that this may have a negative impact on the security situation on or around the island.
In his six-monthly report on the operation of UNFICYP, the UN’s peacekeeping force in Cyprus, Ban recommends the extension of the mandate for a period of six months, until January 19, 2013.
The report is expected to circulate on July 1st and a copy has been already given to the members of the Security Council.
The UN SG expresses further his disappointment for the lack of progress in the opening of more crossing points, despite the stated readiness by the parties.
On the issue concerning the identification of remains of missing persons Ban says a contract is in the process of being finalized for DNA analysis with the genetic laboratory of the International Committee of Missing Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The report is expected to be adopted by the Security Council on July 18, which is expected to be briefed prior to that by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim, on July 10, as well as by the Special Advisor Alexander Downer.
The report refers to the January 2012 Greentree meeting that focused on property, territory and governance and notes that “despite evident commonalities in positions on property, no convergences were reached”. He also adds that “in the area of governance and power-sharing, significant differences between the sides persisted on the issue of the election of the executive”.
Moreover, Ban says that, following the assessment of progress in the talks last March, he concluded that “there had not yet been sufficient progress on core issues to call a multilateral conference”.
He adds that both leaders indicated to him their willingness to continue to strive for a solution, but notes that the Turkish Cypriot side has indicated since that it would continue discussions on matters of substance, only if there was a binding time frame culminating in a multilateral conference.
Ban says in the report that that the notion of binding time lines is being rejected by the Greek Cypriot side, who agrees to a multilateral conference only once all internal issues have been resolved.
Reference is also being made to the decision of President Christofias not to run for reelection.
The Secretary-General also says that until the sides reach agreement on how to proceed with the substantive negotiations, the focus will be on continuing the work of technical committees.
The report also refers to the tension over the exploration of natural resources in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as to the reaction of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry to Cyprus’ launch of its tender for offshore exploration.
In his observations, the Secretary-General calls for restraint and adds that “it is important to ensure that any newfound wealth from natural resources, which belongs to all Cypriots, will benefit both communities”.
He adds that “this development constitutes another strong incentive to find a durable solution to the Cyprus problem”.
Moreover, Ban says that a stage has been reached in the negotiation process, where the sides should agree and proceed with a way forward fro the talks.
Therefore, he encourages both leaders to “fully embrace the concept and practice of a more inclusive dialogue which ensures that civil society actors can have a meaningful role in the peace process”.
Finally, Ban notes that the Secretariat will remain engaged in contingency planning in relation to the settlement, while he adds that he will keep the operations of UNFICYP under close review “taking into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties”.
The Secretary-General notes that he will revert to the Council with recommendations for further adjustments to the UNFICYP mandate, force levels and concept of operations “as soon as warranted”. On the “broader assessment of the United Nations presence in Cyprus” Ban finally says that internal discussions continue as to the potential scope and timing of such an exercise.
Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.
Recently, Nicosia concluded an international tender for off-shore hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation within the Republic’s Economic Exclusive Zone, signaling the initiation of the second round of licensing.
In response to Cypriot exploration activities, Ankara has in the past deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.
The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.
Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.