The extension of the mandate of UNFICYP until January 31, 2026 is requested by Gen. UN Secretary Antonio Guterres in his report on UNFICYP and calls for international support for peace initiatives.

“I welcome the commitment made by the two Cypriot leaders on 15 October to explore the possibility of opening new crossing points, which led the two sides to discuss this matter under the auspices of my Special Representative. 2024 marked several unfortunate anniversaries on the island, among others and during this reporting period.I regret that, in recalling the tragic history of the island, the divisive narratives on the island were louder than the voices of peace,” says Gen. Secretary.

The Secretary-General calls on both sides to end abuses, calls for the removal of unauthorized monitoring systems, welcomes the inclusion of asylum seekers in reception procedures and deplores “ongoing refoulements”.

Regarding Varosia, Gen. Secretary expresses his concern at the lack of progress in reversing the developments in the closed area.

“I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of the parties refraining from unilateral actions that could increase tensions and jeopardize the return to talks, while calling on all parties to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences,” said Gen. Secretary.

Mr. Guterres condemns restrictions on UNFICYP’s access, particularly to Waynes Keep Cemetery, the participation of youth and civil society, underlining the need for political support for a sustainable outcome, while he called for an increase in inter-community trade and cultural exchanges to strengthen trust.

In more detail according to data from the report:

The report states that “military violations by both sides continued, with the installation of unauthorized surveillance systems in the dead zone and regular interventions by police authorities.” The Secretary-General says that “despite these challenges, he organized an informal meeting in October 2024, encouraging the leaders of the two sides to discuss the opening of new crossing points”.

In addition, 142 asylum seekers, including 35 children, remained stranded in the dead zone due to “refoulements from the Republic of Cyprus”, prompting emergency humanitarian assistance in coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). By November, all asylum seekers were transferred to reception centres.

Mediation efforts to de-escalate tensions continued, particularly in the area of ​​Pyla, where there were daily incursions by the Turkish Cypriot police. Although there was an agreement to improve arrangements, it was not implemented.

Exhibition Details:

Military Breaches: 227 breaches were recorded (118 by the Turkish forces and 109 by the National Guard), with an emphasis on unauthorized military systems.

Surveillance Systems: Both sides strengthened surveillance systems by military means, with the Republic of Cyprus installing 31 surveillance towers and Turkish forces adding 49.

The two sides, it is reported, proceeded to regular advances within the dead zone. A major incident occurred when 30 Turkish soldiers approached a temporary asylum seeker camp, but withdrew after UNFICYP intervened.

Varosia

According to Gen. Secretary there have been no steps to reverse the partial opening of the closed city of Varosia. UNFICYP observed the installation of new surveillance cameras, while infrastructure work continues. UNFICYP’s access to the area remains limited.

“In Varossia, no action was taken to address the Security Council’s call in resolution 2373 (2024) for the immediate reversal of actions taken since October 2020. UNFICYP observed no significant change in 3.5% of the area of Varosia which was announced in July 2021 that martial law had been lifted in preparation for reconstruction however, the mission has limited access to this area. During the reporting period, UNFICYP observed the installation of 8 new cameras in Varosia, along with an additional surveillance tower, for which it reported no changes to the ditch and dike system previously mentioned and established by Turkish forces south of the built-up part of Varosia and extending almost 4 km along the northern line Due to its proximity to the dead zone, this remains a military violation. UNFICYP also noted again the repeated use of commercial drone overflights. Access to the entire Varosia area by UNFICYP patrols has remained significantly restricted since 1974,” the report states.

Turbines

UNFICYP’s freedom of movement in Strovilia remains limited, with Turkish Cypriot forces maintaining multiple checkpoints.

Committee on Missing Persons

The Committee on Missing Persons exhumed the remains of four individuals during the reporting period and seven teams of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot scientists excavated across the island during the reporting period. Since 2006, 1,689 remains have been recovered, of which 1,051 have been identified and returned to families.

Mines

No progress has been made in clearing the minefields in the dead zone, although discussions continue to create a mine-free Cyprus.

Turkish Cypriot Police: In the report it is stated that there were 1,245 break-ins in the area of ​​Pyla.

Disputes over Crops: Agricultural activities near the northern ceasefire line have caused clashes between Greek Cypriot farmers and Turkish forces.

Hunting Violations: 43 incidents of hunters entering the dead zone were recorded, although there was a slight decrease compared to previous years

Intercommunity Cooperation

UNFICYP supported initiatives to strengthen inter-community cooperation in three areas:

1. Environmental Issues: Joint visits and discussions between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot NGOs on climate challenges.

2. Entrepreneurship and Culture: Report promoting inter-community business partnerships.

3. Youth: Conferences and workshops to promote peace and climate cooperation.

Monthly meetings of political parties from both communities continued with the mediation of the Slovak Embassy.

Humanitarian Aid and Religious Freedoms

UNFICYP facilitated humanitarian aid for 275 Greek Cypriots and 47 Maronites living in the north and ensured the smooth conduct of religious ceremonies.

Crossing Points: Crossings operated smoothly, with discussions to improve the Agios Dometios/Metehan crossing point.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Asylum-seeker push-backs continued both at sea and on the front line. The European Court of Human Rights found Cyprus guilty of violating the rights of asylum seekers.

According to Gen. Secretary, Cypriot police continued to push back asylum seekers, displaying aggressive behavior towards UNFICYP staff, while 137 push-back-related incursions were recorded.

Claims Statistics: A 62% drop in asylum claims was recorded in the third quarter of 2024 due to stricter policies.

Pending Applications: Syrians represent 65% of the 21,816 pending applications.

Regarding racial issues and the integration of women in peace processes, UNFICYP promoted actions to raise awareness of the role of women, but also events that highlighted issues such as femicide and gender-based violence.

Financial and Administrative Issues

The General Assembly approved a fund of $56.4 million for the period July 2024 to June 2025, with contributions from the Republic of Cyprus ($19.4 million) and Greece ($6.5 million). Outstanding contributions amounted to 14.6 million. dollars.

The report highlights the importance of UNFICYP in maintaining stability and promoting dialogue in Cyprus, stressing that despite the challenges, humanitarian efforts and youth participation offer hope for building trust and achieving a peaceful solution on the island.