The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has assured that it will strive to make its presence more visible in the buffer zone, the community leader of Deneia, Charalambos Alexandrou, told CNA, regarding the meeting he and farmers from Deneia had on Wednesday with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus and head of UNFICYP, Hashim Djan, regarding security issues in the buffer zone.
“The meeting was our initiative,” he explained, adding that “Mr. Dian requested to come to the Deneia Community Council to discuss the matter with us and to hear the farmers’ concerns as well as our own.”
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As Mr. Alexandrou noted, Mr. Dian and the approximately 15 UNFICYP officials accompanying him said that “they cannot do anything more” and that “they cannot use force.”
The community leader told CNA that he and the farmers of Deneia asked Mr. Dian to ensure a more visible UNFICYP presence in the area, so as to reduce violations by the Turkish side as much as possible.
This, as he explained, can be achieved if UNFICYP increases its patrols, intervenes in incidents occurring in the buffer zone, and does not remain merely an observer, so that it can exert its authority over the Turkish side as well.
Responding to a question from CNA, Mr. Alexandrou said that Mr. Dian showed understanding regarding the issues raised, emphasizing that “a solution must be found; at some point, we will face more serious problems.”
When asked whether Turkish violations in the area have increased recently, he replied that they remain at the same level and “continue at specific locations,” noting that the head of UNFICYP is already aware of these locations.
In conclusion, Mr. Alexandrou reported that Hashim Dian said he needs time and that he will try to make the United Nations’ presence in the area more visible, while also noting that UNFICYP is currently facing a staffing shortage.
Source: CNA
