Pressure from Nicosia appears to have triggered UN reflexes in the Pila case, as peacekeeping forces rushed to block the work, writes Stavros Ioannidis, a columnist for the Greek edition of Kathimerini.
The incident with the UN peacekeepers in the area of Pyla (Cyprus) is only the “tip of the iceberg,” experienced diplomats emphasize in an interview with K, noting that an attempt to open a road inside the “dead zone” is only one of numerous attempts to violate international law recorded recently.
The attack by Turkish Cypriot personnel on UN peacekeepers provoked a strong reaction from Athens and Brussels, and a joint statement issued by the diplomatic departments of Great Britain, France and the United States expressly condemns this incident and emphasizes that threats against UN personnel and the destruction of the property of the organization constitute serious crime under international law.
How did we come to these incidents
On August 16, the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” of the pseudo-state announced the improvement of the road between the intercommunal village of Pyla and occupied Arsus. The Turkish Cypriot side in its statement even called the expansion of the 11.6 km long road a “humanitarian project” and called on the UN peacekeeping forces to take a “constructive stance”. This development has caused alarm in Nicosia, and the UN team has also issued a warning, noting that it is engaged in negotiations with both sides to find a mutually acceptable solution.
However, on Friday morning Turkish Cypriot project vehicles appeared at a site in the buffer zone, where it was announced that work would be carried out to improve the road. A peacekeeping force team attempted to block the road by placing service vehicles in front of bulldozers. However, the drivers of the vehicles rammed the UN vehicles, injuring British soldiers who were part of the peacekeeping force.
Taksim Stadium
However, the UN response has not been the same in the case of the reconstruction of the Cetinqaya (Taksim) stadium, part of which is located in the “dead zone” in Nicosia. According to sources familiar with the matter, the UN has shown “tolerance” because, despite the strong protests of the Republic of Cyprus, it did not prevent the Turkish Cypriot brigades from carrying out maintenance and repair of sports facilities, which were finally introduced into operation in January last year. But pressure from Nicosia appears to have triggered UN reflexes in the Pila case, as peacekeeping forces rushed to block the work.
It is understood in Athens and Nicosia that the Pyla incident should not be seen as an isolated incident, but as part of a wider plan, implemented under the high control of Ankara. This plan includes, among other things, works in the closed city of Famagusta and on the coastal front of Varosha, the operation of the illegal Tympos Airport in the occupied territories, violations in the Cyprus EEZ and challenging the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
“Distance” from Turkey
Ankara’s decision not to take any position on the Pyla incidents is quite reasonable as it appears to be in line with Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent position on the Cyprus issue. During his recent visit to the occupied territories, the Turkish president avoided mentioning a two-state solution, and at a “picnic” in Varosha with his government partner Devlet Bahceli, he again spoke about the “Annan plan”.
In this context, competent sources do not rule out that Recep Tayyip Erdogan will take on the role of a “fireman” so that the incidents in Pyla do not stand in the way of Turkey’s rapprochement with the European Union and the resumption of negotiations on joining the EU.
Position of Athens
In a telephone conversation between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Prime Minister expressed his strong disapproval of the incident, saying that Greece and Cyprus are fully coordinated to take all necessary measures. Greek diplomacy immediately responded to the incident, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing the Turkish Cypriot attack on the UN team as “unacceptable” and calling it “an act of disrespect for international legitimacy.”
Athens has launched a series of contacts to inform friends, partners and allies about the Pyla incident and is reportedly considering preparing a special report for the UN General Assembly to be held in September in New York.
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