A/HRC/13/24 Freedom of religion 30. With regard to freedom of religion, access to sites and icons of religious and cultural significance was facilitated by UNFICYP. From November 2008 to May 2009, the Mission facilitated five religious and commemorative events, which took place without incident. For example, on 20 April 2009, some 250 Greek Cypriots visited the church in Varosha in the buffer zone, in an annual pilgrimage, and on 10 May an annual pilgrimage took place to the abandoned village of Ayios Georgios Soleas.41 During the period from May to November 2009 UNFICYP facilitated 17 religious and commemorative events, of which 12 involved crossing the buffer zone to the north, 2 involved crossing the buffer zone to the south and 3 were held in the buffer zone.42 31. On 8 August 2009, 1,451 Turkish Cypriots travelled through the buffer zone in the area of Limnitis/Yeşilirmak in order to participate in an annual commemorative event in Kokkina/Erenkoy. On 2 September 2009, 645 Greek Cypriot pilgrims were unable to cross through this area to attend a religious service at Saint Mamas church following a disagreement between the two sides regarding crossing modalities.43 III. Conclusion 32. The persisting de facto partition of the island of Cyprus continues to constitute an obstacle to the full enjoyment of human rights. It is hoped that the new momentum to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem will provide avenues to improve the human rights situation on the island and that relevant stakeholders will actively contribute to achieving enhanced human rights protection and promotion. 41 42 43 10 S/2009/248, para. 36. S/2009/609, para. 21. Ibid., para. 22. GE.10-11644