A/HRC/25/21 I. Introduction 1. The present report was prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolutions 4 (XXXI), 4 (XXXII) and 1987/50, and Human Rights Council decision 2/102.1 2. As at 30 November 2013, Cyprus remained divided, with a buffer zone maintained by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).2 In its resolution 2114 (2013), the Security Council welcomed the progress to date and the work that the parties were putting into preparing for productive negotiations in October 2013.The Council also noted, however, that the move towards a more intensive phase of negotiations had not yet resulted in an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in relevant Council resolutions. It therefore encouraged the sides to proceed with the substantive negotiations on the core issues, stressing that the status quo was unsustainable. 3. In the period from 1 December 2012 until the presidential elections held in the Republic of Cyprus (on 17 and 24 February 2013), the sides focused their work on confidence-building measures through the seven technical committees established in 2008 (on crime and criminal matters, economic and commercial matters, cultural heritage, crisis management, humanitarian matters, health and the environment) and two additional committees established in 2010 (on broadcasting and new crossings), which convene on an ad hoc basis. During the period under review, from 1 December 2012 to 30 November 2013, the sides maintained their participation in these committees. The meetings and activities of the committees are facilitated by the United Nations, primarily by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus with support from UNFICYP and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The confidence-building measures taken in 2013 included a joint Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot firefighting exercise in the United Nations Protected Area conducted by the Crisis Management Technical Committee and the successful activation of a cross-community crisis communication mechanism to address the identification of livestock disease through the Technical Committee on Health and its Joint Committee on Veterinary Matters. In addition, significant progress was made in projects relating to the conservation of cultural heritage sites implemented by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage. 4. The presidential elections held in the Republic of Cyprus in February 2013 brought Nicos Anastasiades to office, together with renewed hope for the resumption of negotiations. Immediately following the elections, however, a severe economic crisis struck the Republic of Cyprus. As a result, during his initial months in office, Mr. Anastasiades focused on facing the economic crisis and negotiating a financial bail-out package with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. On 30 May 2013, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met face-to-face at an 1 2 For an overview of resolutions on the question of human rights in Cyprus, see A/HRC/22/18, paras. 1-4. UNFICYP was established pursuant to Security Council resolution 186 (1964) to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island and bring about a return to normal conditions. Its responsibilities were expanded in 1974 following a coup d’état by elements favouring union with Greece and a subsequent military intervention by Turkey, whose troops established control over the northern part of the island. Since the de facto ceasefire in August 1974, UNFICYP has supervised the ceasefire lines, provided humanitarian assistance, and maintained a buffer zone between the Turkish and the Turkish Cypriot forces in the north and the Greek Cypriot forces in the south (see also www.unficyp.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=778). 3