Egypt calls for pacification after assault on UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

CAIRO – 20 August 2023: Egypt called Sunday for pacification and suspension of any measures that would trigger tensions between Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus in the aftermath of the Friday assault on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) stationed in the buffer zone.

The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of respecting the UNFICYP and related United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) resolutions. It also stipulated the necessity of avoiding any activities that would complicate the circumstances as well as the existing status of the ceasefire lines and buffer zone.

Egypt also called for "returning to the pathway of the comprehensive resolution to the Cypriot issue in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions.

Spokesperson of the United Nations security-general issued a statement Saturday revealing that three peacekeepers had to be hospitalized and that a number of UN vehicles had been damaged.

"The peacekeepers had been preventing unauthorized construction work in the Pyla/Pile area, in accordance with their mandate provided by the UN Security Council," the statement indicated, referring to news reports that Turkish Cyprus bulldozed UN vehicles, bollards and barbed wires placed in the buffer zone.