Foreign Ministry reacts to 'unauthorized Peacekeeping Force'

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the extension of the UNFICYP mandate on the island of Cyprus, it was stated: "We fully support the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) regarding Resolution 2723 (2024), adopted by the United Nations Security Council on January 30, 2024, which extends the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) stationed on the island of Cyprus for one year."

"THE CONSENT OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE WAS NOT OBTAINED THIS TIME EITHER"

Pointing out that the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side was not obtained while extending the UNFICYP mandate, the statement noted: "Contrary to the established practices of the United Nations, the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side was not obtained this time either while extending the mandate of the Peacekeeping Force.

We would like to draw attention once again to the fact that the UNFICYP is able to continue its activities on TRNC territory within the framework of the goodwill of the TRNC authorities, we underline that a legal basis is needed for the continuation of these activities, and we emphasize our full support for the steps to be taken by the TRNC side in this direction."

Noting that the completion of the Yiğitler-Pile road could be a positive step regarding the eroded trust of the Turkish Cypriots in the UNFICYP, the statement continued: "The UNFICYP has turned a blind eye to numerous buffer zone violations by the Greek Cypriot side for years. Its attempt to unfairly obstruct the construction work of the Yiğitler-Pile road, which is a humanitarian project, on August 18, 2023, has once again revealed that it does not display the impartiality expected from peacekeeping missions. 

It is regrettable that the UN Security Council, in this latest resolution, refers to its press statement regarding the incident on August 21, which is completely detached from the realities on the ground. The completion of the Yiğitler-Pile road, on the other hand, could be an effective step towards restoring the eroded trust of the Turkish Cypriots in the UNFICYP and could contribute to reducing tensions on the ground."

"WE REITERATE OUR CALL FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE TRNC"

In the statement, which included a call for the recognition of the TRNC, it was emphasized that the decision was far from fair at a time when a Personal Representative had just been appointed, stating: "On the other hand, we are deeply disappointed that the resolution extending the UNFICYP mandate refers to outdated and exhausted models in the context of a possible solution, while failing to mention the two-state vision put forward by TRNC President Mr. Tatar. 

We emphasize that this approach is far from fair and constructive at a time when a Personal Representative, tasked with exploring whether there is common ground between the two sides on the Island, has just been appointed. We call on the UN Security Council to accept the reality that a fair, lasting, and sustainable solution in Cyprus can only be reached on the basis of the realities on the ground, and to register the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people, which are their inherent rights. We reiterate our call for the recognition of the TRNC before the UN Security Council and the international community."