Egypt called for calm and a return to the path of a political settlement of the Cyprus issue on Sunday, following an attack on United Nations peacekeepers in the buffer zone between the island’s two communities.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “stressed the importance of respecting the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission and the relevant Security Council resolutions, and the need to avoid any actions that would contribute to complicating the situation and changing the existing situation along the ceasefire lines and the buffer zone.”
The ministry also called for “a return to the path of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.”
The attack on the UN peacekeepers took place on Friday when Turkish Cypriot troops opened fire on them as they tried to prevent the construction of a controversial road in the buffer zone. The road is being built by the Turkish Cypriots, who control the northern part of the island.
The Republic of Cyprus, which controls the southern part of the island, considers the Turkish military presence on the island since the 1974 war an illegal occupation.
The UN mission in Cyprus said that the attack on its peacekeepers was “unacceptable” and that it would “continue to fulfil its mandate to maintain peace and security in the buffer zone.”
The Cyprus issue has been deadlocked for decades, with the two sides unable to agree on a solution. The UN has been trying to broker a settlement for years but has so far been unsuccessful.
The attack on the UN peacekeepers is a setback to the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. It is important for all sides to exercise restraint and avoid taking any actions that could further complicate the situation.
