UN approves renewal of Unficyp mandate (updated)

The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted resolution 2506 extending the Unficyp mandate for another six months.

The resolution adoption comes after intense behind-the-scenes deliberations initiated by Nicosia which was unhappy with certain references in the draft. Diplomatic sources said the resolution text had been significantly improved after Nicosia’s interventions.

The Cyprus government was reportedly very unhappy with the inclusion in the draft resolution of a paragraph calling for the creation of a mechanism for resolving military issues through direct contact of the two sides, without mediation by Unficyp. The government feared such direct contact would constitute a form of recognition.

Andreas Mavroyiannis, Cyprus`  Permanent Representative at the UN said, after the approval of the resolution that Nicosia considered the presence and the function of the force, “indispensable for the preservation of calm and for the prevalence of conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations for the long overdue, settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

“Uficyp is a small, versatile efficient and most successful peacekeeping force operating under difficult circumstances”, Mavroyiannis said.

Ambassador Mavroyiannis said that Cyprus  thanks all the members of the Security Council, as well as the Secretary General and the Secretariat for their support and understanding.

“We are going to continue doing our utmost for the settlement of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, for the reunification of our country and the withdrawal of all occupation troops,” he said.

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