United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the Greek Cypriot administration has blurred the line between civilian and military facilities in a dangerously ambiguous manner by concealing military positions within civilian structures.

Guterres warned that this situation raises serious humanitarian concerns and could put civilians at risk.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the Greek Cypriot administration’s Ministry of Defence has been “deliberately and dangerously blurring the line” between civilian and military facilities by concealing military positions within civilian structures.

Guterres highlighted in the draft of the latest six-month report on the activities of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) that a recent example of this occurred at a research institute near the buffer zone in Lefkoşa.

In the report, Guterres wrote that the research institute in question had been “instructed by the Ministry of Defence to add reinforced firing positions to its perimeter walls.”

He noted that UNFICYP continues to protest this policy with the Greek Cypriot authorities.

“This situation is not only a military violation but also dangerously blurs the line between civilian and military facilities,” Guterres stated.

The Secretary-General warned, “The policy of concealing military positions within civilian structures deliberately blurs the line between military and civilian entities, creating serious humanitarian concerns. This could put civilians at risk.”