The reports of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on UNFICYP (the peacekeeping force in Cyprus) and its Good Offices Mission have been released.

In his report on UNFICYP, the UN Secretary General refers to a record number of violations in the buffer zone by both sides, while noting that beyond the buffer zone he has repeatedly stressed the importance of avoiding unilateral actions by the sides that may cause tension and undermine the return to talks, calling on the sides to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences.

In his Good Offices report, Guterres notes that actions in and around the buffer zone have contributed to a lack of trust and do not help the current situation, and that the increasing militarization of the two sides contradicts statements by leaders who say they want the Cyprus problem to move forward.

Stressing the importance of the work of the technical committees and the positive impact that confidence-building measures would have, the UN Secretary General believes that “only sincere progress towards reaching a consensus on the starting point for negotiations leading to a mutually acceptable settlement will reassure both Cypriots and the international community that a peaceful and shared future on the island remains truly achievable.”