A/HRC/28/20 leaders instructed their negotiators to increase the pace of meetings with a view to bridging the gaps on unresolved core issues. 5. On 6 October 2014, the Greek Cypriot side suspended its participation in the talks following the announcement by Turkey that it would undertake a seismic survey in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. Efforts are under way to secure the resumption of negotiations. II. Challenges for the implementation of international human rights standards in a protracted conflict 6. Various United Nations human rights mechanisms have voiced their concern at the factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of international human rights standards on the whole island due to the protracted conflict. In this regard, United Nations treaty bodies, the special procedures and the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review addressed their questions to and made recommendations for Cyprus, Turkey and the de facto authorities in the northern part of the island. 7. In its list of issues in relation to the fourth periodic report of Cyprus, adopted in July 2014, the Human Rights Committee asked the Government to indicate the measures taken to avoid a human rights protection gap resulting from the protracted conflict in both the northern and southern parts of the island.3 8. In his report submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-fifth session, in March 2014, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief noted an apparent improved climate of interreligious communication and cooperation in Cyprus that he witnessed during the ground-breaking interreligious round tables held in Nicosia in September 2013.4 In October and November 2014, the Special Rapporteur collected input in the context of his follow-up procedure on steps taken to implement his conclusions and recommendations made to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, the de facto authorities in the northern part of the island and other stakeholders following his mission in 2012.5 9. The two summaries prepared by OHCHR for the second universal periodic review of Cyprus, which included summaries of stakeholders’ submissions, both contained chapters on human rights issues in the northern part of the island.6 During the meeting of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on 4 February 2014, Portugal recommended that the Government of Cyprus further develop projects concerning relations between different religious and ethnic communities in line with relevant recommendations of the Special Rapporteur.7 The Government accepted the recommendation in June 2014, stating that Cyprus fully supported the work of the Special Rapporteur and ongoing interreligious dialogue in Cyprus. 8 10. Declarations and reservations to international human rights treaties may also negatively affect the protection of all persons living in a territory marked by a protracted conflict. For example, upon ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 CCPR/C/CYP/Q/4, para. 2. A/HRC/25/58, para. 44. A/HRC/22/51/Add.1, paras. 74-94. A/HRC/WG.6/18/CYP/2, paras. 71 – 74; A/HRC/WG.6/18/CYP/3, paras. 66 – 68. A/HRC/26/14, para. 114.73. A/HRC/26/14/Add.1, paras. 53 – 54.