Security Council renews UN peacekeeping force for Cyprus through mid-June

Acting on the recommendation of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Security Council today extended the mandate of United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 15 June 2003.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also urged the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to rescind the restrictions imposed on 30 June 2000 on UNFICYP's operations and to restore the military status quo ante of Strovilia, a small hamlet inhabited by Greek Cypriots.

Among its various duties, UNFICYP monitors the ceasefire lines in Cyprus, which extend some 180 kilometres across the island. The buffer zone varies in width from under 20 metres to some 7 kilometres and covers 3 per cent of the terrain. Surveillance is maintained through a system of observation posts, as well as through air, vehicle and foot patrols.

UNFICYP was established in 1964 and has been renewed on a periodic basis since then. As of the end of September, the Force had 1,245 total uniformed personnel supported by 43 international civilian personnel and 104 local civilian staff.