“As a conflict state and a beneficiary of the long running good offices mission of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus, entrusted to him by this Council, Cyprus has insights and lessons learnt to share, even though the role of the UN in our conflict is limited to facilitating agreement by the parties.

Mediation is an important tool prescribed by the Charter for the peaceful settlement of disputes, provided it is used in line with the Charter and respecting the special role assigned by the latter to the Security Council.

Experience has shown that there is sometimes a disconnect between the Council and the mediator appointed as part of the UN’s effort to contribute to the peaceful settlement of a dispute. For such mediation to be effective, the Council must be able to assume responsibility for the work of the mediator. This would require the two to work in tandem.

Experience has also shown that we could benefit from more clarity as regards the framework of the UN’s engagement in mediation and the code of conduct of UN officials acting as mediators on behalf of the organization. We believe that a more consistent and rules-based approach is required and the Council could develop a manual to this end.

At the core of the UN’s involvement in mediation should be the inviolable rule of conducting the process on the basis of the organisation’s values and principles, the UN Charter and international law. These norms and principles mean that the UN does not operate in a vacuum and that, while it should be impartial, it should not be neutral.

The UN should be extra cautious with enhanced mediation methods like arbitration as a tool of political or non-judicial third-party intervention. Endorsement by the Council should be required in such cases, while the Council should bear in mind that even if there is consent of the parties, this consent can be coerced.

Peacekeeping is a crucial component of conflict resolution. Enabling environments in which to conduct peace processes depend on PKOs, and so does preventing escalation within a conflict, establishing channels with relevant actors on the ground, and developing an understanding of local circumstances.

The participation of women in conflict resolution is by now universally supported and indeed it can be a game-changer. For that to happen however, this participation needs to be meaningful, and the way for it to be meaningful is by achieving gender equality more broadly in a society and reflecting that in the participation of women across public life and in core political decision-making.”