'It is regrettable that neither side has seriously engaged on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2373 (2024) which called for cooperation with UNFICYP towards a de-escalation of tensions in and around the buffer zone' mentioned Secretary General in UNFICYP report and pointed out that 'actions by both sides during the reporting period considerably altered the military status quo of the buffer zone, as unauthorised permanent constructions - especially military - multiplied despite protests and engagements by the mission.' The Secretary General's Report was conducted for the information of the members of the Security Council for the period 13 December 2023 to 12 June 2024 and an advance copy of it was circulated late on Wednesday. Guterres is concerned that the "record number" of incursions by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the buffer zone, in addition to move forward violations by both sides, further signal a concerning erosion of respect for the mission's authority in the buffer zone. He is concerned "by the disregard shown by both sides towards the mandated authority of UNFICYP." "I appeal to both sides, in line with the repeated calls by the Security Council, to respect the mission's authority in, and delineation of, the buffer zone," he says. He notes that beyond the buffer zone itself, I have repeatedly stressed the importance of the parties refraining from taking unilateral actions that could raise tensions and compromise a return to talks, while also calling upon all parties to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. The Secretary General reiterates "his concern over the situation in the fenced-off area of Varosha and the lack of response to the Security Council's call for a reversal of the actions taken since the announcement of the partial reopening of the fenced-off town in October 2020." "The position of the United Nations on this matter remains unchanged" he notes. Secretary General urges both sides leaders to support the intercommunal contacts. "The United Nation s will continue to support all Cypriots in pursuing dialogue, it remains the case that the status quo is not static, and the long-standing lack of agreement creates further hurdles - both practical and psychological. I therefore call upon both leaders to take genuine steps towards facilitating reconciliation and supporting intercommunal contacts, while also ensuring that the voices of civil society organizations are meaningfully included at the political decision -making level" mentioned Secretary General. During the reporting period, the number of military violations remained high as the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides proceeded with unauthorized military constructions and installations in and around the buffer zone to strengthen their defensive postures. As it is mentioned "constraints on the mission's freedom of movement also remained in several areas, exacerbated by a record number of incursions by both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot police in the buffer zone, a direct challenge to the missio n's authority". "The mission undertook efforts to deescalate tensions in and around the buffer zone further to Security Council Resolution 2373 (2024). However, while not explicitly rejecting the notion of de-escalation, neither side actively engaged in discussions to explore how this could be achieved" is mentioned. As for the situation on the Pyla/Pile plateau continued to be calm, as construction works remained suspended throughout the reporting period. UNFICYP maintained its engagement with both sides with a view to resuming the implementation of the agreed understanding. "The progress achieved through the conclusion of an understanding on the Pyla/Pile plateau during the previous reporting period was diminished by the continued suspension of its implementation since 6 November 2023. New concerns raised at that time challenged the basis of the understandings. The mission repeatedly engaged with the sides at various levels to unblock implementation, with full impartiality as was shown from the very firs t engagement on this issue, that led to the conclusion of the understanding. Unfortunately, misinformation on this subject has been rife. In addition, incursions by Turkish Cypriot police into the buffer zone on the Pyla/Pile plateau, at times in civilian clothing, far exceeded those of previous periods" Guterres writes in his report. ?hen, it is empasised that in May, the decision by the Republic of Cyprus against a background of increasing migrant and refugee flows to deny access to asylum procedures to all those in the buffer zone led to an increase of migrants and refugees stranded in the buffer zone, requiring emergency 2 humanitarian support from UNFICYP and UNHCR. The report further underlines the fact that "For the first time since November 2019, with facilitation and political engagement of UNFICYP, more than 300 pilgrims from the north crossed to the south to conduct their pilgrimage to the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque in Larnaca. The 60th anniversary, Secretary General notes, served as a stark remin der that the resolution of the Cyprus issue is long overdue. Although no new significant crisis emerged, it is underscored, "the upward trend of serious military violations continued, with challenges to the mission's authority and actions altering the military status quo persisting." The reporting period was characterized by the strengthening of defensive postures by both sides in and around the buffer zone. The increased number of law enforcement incursions in the buffer zone also illustrated a growing disregard for UNFICYP's authority in the buffer zone by both sides. As report says "the unauthorized 14 kilometers of concertina wire fence placed in the buffer zone by the Republic of Cyprus in 2021 and 2022, against the mission's protests, has not been removed despite previous indications that it would be". In Varosha, no steps were taken to address the call made by the Security Council in its resolution 2373 (2024) for the immediate reversal of the action taken since October 2020, the UNSG's report highl ights. UNFICYP did not observe any significant change in the 3.5 per cent of the area of Varosha for which it was announced in July 2021 that the military status had been lifted in preparation for renovation; however, the mission has limited access to that area. "UNFICYP protested the establishment of a new trench and berm system by the Turkish Forces stretching nearly four kilometers along the northern ceasefire line, which, through its proximity to the buffer zone, constitutes a military violation. Access to the entire area of Varosha by UNFICYP patrols has remained significantly constrained since 1974' is mentioned. According to report 'the United Nations continues to hold the Government of Trkiye responsible for the situation in Varosha.' As noted, UNFICYP pursued efforts at the political and military level towards a de-escalation of tensions in and around the buffer zone, so far with little success. '?he mission observed 303 military violations, 158 by the National Guard and 145 by the Turkish Force s. Among the total number of violations, 108 were considered serious as they involved permanent constructions, challenging the mission's authority in the buffer zone and the ceasefire lines,' it says. The reporting period saw renewed enthusiasm and interest from civil society in peace efforts. UNFICYP sustained efforts in building bridges between the communities, organizing or supporting 159 intercommunal or peacebuilding events, 23 of which focused on women or youth. As for the Missing Persons issue, 'the Committee continued its efforts to gain access to additional information on the location of the burial sites of missing persons from the archives of countries that had maintained a military or police presence in Cyprus in 1963/64 and 1974'. The Turkish Cypriot office of the Committee continued to have access to Turkish army aerial photos taken in 1974, and the Greek Cypriot office of the Committee continued to research the Republic of Cyprus National Guard archives of 1974. The Committee is also using a shared web-based geographic information system application that allows for the visualization and sharing of information among the Committee's three offices and is accessible to field- and office-based employees. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Last January, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency