The UN continues to support bi-communal cooperation across Cyprus, UNFICYP Spokesperson, Aleem Siddique, said on Wednesday, addressing a press conference at Ledra Palace, in the Nicosia buffer-zone, along with representatives from the UN’s Good Offices Mission, UNDP and UNFICYP’s Civil Affairs team, providing an overview of activities and ongoing projects. The political climate has been going ‘up and down’ over the years, said Sergiy Illarionov, Coordinator of the UN Good Offices Mission, adding that following Turfan Erhurman’s election in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, the UN is ‘definitely looking forward to support both sides in the resumption of the talks.’
Works at the wastewater treatment plant in Mia Milia are moving forward and are expected to start this year, while the first phase of works to extend the Pedieos Linear Park into the Turkish Cypriot community is expected to be completed by the end of January, it was noted during the press conference.
‘For over six decades, the UN has worked to keep peace, build trust, and bring communities together on this island. Even without a political settlement, people are still coming together – across the divide. Whether it’s through culture, education, the environment, or business, these joint efforts help build bridges’ Siddique said.
He added that every shared project is ‘a step towards a more united and resilient island’ while noting that UN efforts aren’t just about the future, ‘they’re about how Cypriots live and work together today.’
Sergiy Illarionov, referred to the work of the UN Good Offices Mission, mandated since 1964, to support the parties to the peace process. ‘Since the closure of the Conference on Cyprus in 2017, the focus of the Good Offices Mission in Cyprus has been on facilitating the Technical Committees’ he added.
He clarified that the purpose of today’s briefing is not about the peace process as such, but aims to explain the role of the different missions and agencies of the United Nations in facilitating contact between the two sides.
‘The good news is that there has been far more activity in the Cyprus issue in the past 2 years’ Illarionov said, noting that the UN Secretary-General himself has continued to be personally involved in the dialogue with the parties.
‘With the initial appointment of Holguín as the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus in January 2024, and her re-appointment in May this year, we have seen an increase in engagement and a number of high-level meetings’ he added, detailing the various initiatives that have been agreed upon by the two sides.
Asked about the prevailing climate, following Erhurman’s election as Turkish Cypriot leader and how this affects the overall planning of various UN services on the island, Illarionov spoke of various ups and downs over the years, when it comes to the political climate and the opportunities for a settlement. ‘In the UN we are looking forward to work with the new leadership in the north’ he said, while citing challenges to the UN mission amid ongoing UN restructuring initiatives. ‘But we are definitely looking forward to support both sides in the resumption of the talks, anytime’ he added.
He also said that the UN Good Offices in Cyprus has been working to support progress on the trust-building initiatives agreed at the broader format meetings. ‘And while some of these initiatives have been achieved successfully – there are others that need further work and discussion’ he added.
Taking the floor, Jakhongir Khaydarov, UNDP Cyprus Head of Office shared updates on three EU-funded projects, the Cultural Heritage Project, the Local Infrastructure Facility, and the Support Facility to Technical Committees.
He said that for over 15 years, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage has safeguarded Cyprus’ shared landmarks. ‘With EU support, more than 200 sites have been restored, conserved, or preserved’ he added.
On the EU funded Local Infrastructure Facility, launched in 2018, Khaydarov said that so far, it has supported over 20 projects in wastewater management, renewable energy, social development, and health.
Asked to provide an update on the Mia Milia plant, Khaydarov said that works for a sewerage network are ongoing, while they are using the opportunity to simultaneously lay down additional pipes, to connect the water from the plant back to the communities.
Alexandre Prieto, Project Manager at Local Infrastructure Facility – which is implemented by UNDP and funded by the EU – said that funding has already been secured and the project is moving forward. The first part is going to start this year, he said, adding that additional investment will be required to complete the whole system. The project now involves the sewer line while at the same time an additional pipe is installed for the reuse of treated water for the Greek Cypriot community. There are plans involving the Turkish Cypriot community as well, Prieto added.
Khaydarov also referred to the upcoming Pedieos River project noting that it will further enhance biodiversity and shared green spaces, bringing communities together and fostering everyday encounters.
Works are currently taking place in the Turkish Cypriot community, near the Ledra Palace crossing point, and will involve more stages, he explained. He said moreover that the project does not involve installing additional check points.
Alexandre Prieto said the project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by the end of January 2026. The second phase involves the path along the river, and will start in April 2026, while works should last until June 2027, he added. The UNDP official underlined that they are proceeding with care, in order not to disturb the ecosystem along the river, including the turtles that live there.
Abimbola Aina, Chief of UNFICYP Civil Affairs, said that over the past decade, her office has been ‘at the forefront of building cooperation, understanding, and trust between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.’
Aina said that UNFICYP’s partnerships with Cypriots, supported by the diplomatic community, remain central to its peacebuilding mission. Among others, she referred to UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace (YCEP) initiative, now in its fifth year, saying that it has directly engaged 142 young leaders and over 800 participants through associated projects.
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.