According to the spokesperson for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp), Aleem Siddique, there have been no changes concerning developments in the buffer zone in the area of Ayios Dhometios.
Talking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Wednesday, Siddique, however, said that the peacekeeping force continues to closely monitor the area.
On Monday, around 40 armed soldiers were spotted in the buffer zone near Ayios Dhometios trying to install an antenna and rotating cameras on an empty building in the buffer zone known as ‘Maria’s House’.
According to the mayor of Ayios Dhometios, Costas Petrou, the property is Turkish Cypriot, owned by a woman who converted to Christianity and took the name Maria.
The house falls within the UN buffer zone and has been the site of several issues in the past, the mayor had said on Tuesday, saying that Greek Cypriot authorities have also been harassed trying conduct municipal works in the area under the guidance of Unficyp.
Siddique on Wednesday also said that the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, remains in contact with both sides to prevent further escalations and maintain the status quo in the area.
President Nikos Christodoulides also intervened in the matter on Tuesday and said if the status quo in the buffer zone was not restored as the UN has said it would be, then there would be consequences.
However, Christodoulides said that despite the violations, the Greek Cypriot side was ready to restart talks on the Cyprus problem.
“You realise that the present state of things, the passing of time, the creation of new faits accomplis, such as the ones we are experiencing, do not help to solve the Cyprus issue. So, from our side, it is our own country under occupation, we will do everything possible to create conditions for the resumption of talks,” he said.
