The UN Secretary General has scolded Turkey’s occupying forces for deploying nearly 30 CCTV cameras along Nicosia’s Green Line over the past six months.
In his report on UNFICYP, handed over to the UN Security Council members, Ban Ki-moon said: “In a new development…Turkish Forces deployed 28 close circuit television cameras along the ceasefire line in central Nicosia, some on previously unmanned observation posts.”
He added: “UNFICYP assesses that this confers a clear military advantage to the Turkish Forces in the areas concerned. UNFICYP protested this military violation on several occasions, at both military and political levels. Yet, the cameras remain in place.”
Ban said that while no progress was made in the implementation of military-related confidence-building measures, neither of the opposing forces conducted any major military exercises over the past six months.
He called on all parties – given the resumption of negotiations towards reunifying the island – to take concrete steps on a range of measures as a sign of their commitment to the peace process.
One step could be for both opposing forces to engage actively with UNFICYP on military confidence-building measures, he noted.
“This could include formal acceptance by both sides of the aide memoire of 1989, bringing to an end contestation of the United Nations delineation of the ceasefire lines,” he said.
“Within such a framework, the sides could also address the recent change to the status quo arising from the placement of CCTV cameras in Nicosia, which has increased tensions unnecessarily and is regrettable,” he added.
Ban who recommends the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate for another six months, until January 31, 2015, also referred to the newly-discovered natural resources offshore Cyprus.
“It is important to ensure that any new found wealth will benefit both communities…such developments constitute a strong incentive for all parties to find a durable solution to the Cyprus problem.”
The Security Council will adopt the resolution on July 30.
The strength of UNFICYP’s military component stands at 858 plus a police component of 62.
The UN chief noted that as the two leaders take this renewed peace process forward, they should sustain the current momentum and build on existing agreements and gains achieved thus far.
But he also warned that the sides should refrain from negative rhetoric about the process and each other.
Cyprus Weekly
