The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar, has asked to meet with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, to discuss with him the issue regarding the temporary suspension of operation of four crossing points, across the dividing line, that was decided by the government as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.
A UN source has told the Cyprus News Agency that according to the practice followed when Spehar meets with one of the two leaders in Cyprus then she meets with the other one as well. Subsequently, the source noted, after Spehar’s meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, she has asked to meet with Anastasiades to discuss with him as well the issue related to the crossing points and now she expects the response from Anastasiades’ office.
The UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) issued on Thursday a statement, noting that “following the decision to temporarily close four crossing points along the buffer zone, UNFICYP is concerned by the ongoing disruption caused to people on both sides.”
Invited on Friday to comment on UNFICYP’s statement Anastasiades said that interventions which concern the decisions of a sovereign country, as the Republic of Cyprus, which is a recognized UN member state and an EU member state “are unfortunate”.
Akinci met with Spehar on Wednesday and expressed to her its concern over the temporary suspension of operation of the four crossing points at Ledra Street, Astromeritis, Lefka, and Deryneia.
