THE U.N. Security Council yesterday renewed the mandate for the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus until June 2008 without including a controversial reference to the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
It is understood that Cyprus had the backing of Russia, France and China, three of the five permanent members of the Council, along with Britain and the US, in its efforts to have the reference removed.
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said in his report to the Council: “It is regrettable that the ongoing debate on the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots has become one about recognition.
The government took exception to the reference, saying there was no such thing as Turkish Cypriot isolation.
Yesterday’s resolution urges all parties to show flexibility and political will over the coming months to make measurable progress which would allow fully fledged negotiations to begin on the Cyprus issue.
It noted “with deep concern” the lack of any progress, and called on all parties immediately to engage constructively with the UN, and to cease mutual recriminations.
The resolution echoed Ban’s firm belief that the responsibility of finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves, and that the upcoming year offers an important window of opportunity to make decisive progress, which must be grasped by all parties.
However it also “deplored” the continued failure to date to implement the July 8, 2006 Agreement, and urged the leaders of both communities to act to start the process without delay in order to prepare the ground for fully-fledged negotiations.
“Time is not on the side of a settlement, and that negotiations to reunify the island have been at an impasse for too long,” the resolution said.
It called on both sides to continue to engage, ‘as a matter of urgency’ and while respecting UNFICYP’s mandate, in consultations with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone, in particular in relation to the Ledra Street checkpoint.
The resolution also calls on the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to June 30, 2000, when they moved their positions forward.
The government last night expressed its satisfaction with the resolution.
Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas said there were a number of positive points in the resolution.
“The Government of the Republic of Cyprus expresses its satisfaction with the resolution which fully supports the July 8 Agreement and the Gambari process, as expressed in its letter to the leaders of the two communities on November 15, 2006,” Palmas said.
He said the removal of the reference to Turkish Cypriot isolation was one positive point as was the reaffirmation of all relevant resolutions on Cyprus, which calls on all states to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and abstain from actions that may harm this sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
??
??
??
??
