The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) released a statement denying reports in Greek Cypriot media that the UN secretary-general’s special representative in Cyprus, Alexander Downer, had sought talks to be attended by Turkey, Greece, the UK and the Turkish and Greek Cypriot administrations of the island in which the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee would be discussed. The Greek Cypriot administration, which claims to be the sole representative of the island, lashed out at Downer following the reports.
Downer, UNFICYP said, “has never made such a call and it is unfortunate that this inaccurate reporting went unchecked.” It added that Downer “recalls that the question of security and guarantees will be discussed as part of the ongoing peace talks, which are being led by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders.”
The Treaty of Guarantee ensured the basic provisions of the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, which went into force shortly after Cyprus gained its independence from Britain, as well as its territorial integrity.
