High Representative Josep Borrell said in a written statement that recent unilateral actions by the Turkish Cypriot side, through promoting 'unauthorised construction work' in the buffer zone, is a violation of the status quo that leads to escalation. Borrell was commenting on tensions that played out near Pyla on Friday morning, after having posted a short message on social media earlier in the day.

In a lengthier statement, Borrell repeated that the EU 'condemns the assault on United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) peacekeepers by personnel from the Turkish Cypriot side this morning'.

'We call on the Turkish Cypriot side to fully respect the mission's mandated authority inside the UN buffer zone,' he added.

'The recent unilateral steps with regard to the unauthorised construction work by the Turkish Cypriot side inside the UN buffer zone near Pyla/Pile, are a violation of the status quo that leads to escalation', Borrell stressed.

'The EU calls for calm and stability in the area, as well as for the resumption of important work on a mutually agreeable way forward in the Pyla/Pile area,' he underlined.

'Recalling the European Council Conclusions of June 2023, the EU remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis,' the High Representative repeated.

'For this settlement to be possible in the future, also in line with the Press Statement of the UN Security Council of 12 July 2023, it remains essential to avoid unilateral actions, including actions that violate the military status quo along the ceasefire lines or encroachment into the buffer zone,' Borrell pointed out.

Source: Cyprus News Agency