UN warns of 'growing skepticism' over Cyprus deal
The United Nations envoy to Cyprus warned on Jan. 20 of "growing skepticism" among the island's population that recent diplomatic efforts between the rival communities will herald a comprehensive peace deal.
Speaking with reporters at UN headquarters, Elizabeth Spehar, the special representative and head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), called for more efforts to broach differences between the Turkish and Greek communities in the divided Mediterranean nation.
"According to recent polls in Cyprus, there remains a strong desire for a comprehensive settlement in both communities. But at the same time, there's growing skepticism as to whether it's still possible," said Spehar.
Spehar spoke after briefing the 15-nation UN Security Council behind closed doors about the latest developments in Cyprus, which has been divided since a military dispute between Greece and Turkey in the 1970s.
She praised the progress made during a meeting between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades in Berlin last November.
"The leaders' role remains critical, and the role of the guarantor countries is of course also key to arriving at a solution," said Spehar, referring to Turkey, Greece and the U.K.
"The secretary-general has urged the leaders, the guarantor powers and other interested parties to make productive use of the coming period in order to concretely and convincingly demonstrate that upon a return to the negotiation table, this time it would indeed be different."
Turkey is a guarantor nation for Cyprus and has consistently contested the Greek Cypriot administration's unilateral drilling in the...
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