Mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus renewed until mid-December

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

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council also endorsed a recommendation by the Secretary-General to increase the mission’s civilian police component by no more than 34 officers in order to meet the increased workload resulting from the partial easing of restrictions on island-wide freedom of movement, which has been met by goodwill from Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

The Council noted the limited steps taken by the Turkish Cypriot side to ease some of the restrictions imposed on 30 June 2000 on UNFICYP's operations, but urged the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to rescind all remaining restrictions.

The Council also expressed concern at the recent, further violations by the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces at Strovilia, a small hamlet inhabited by Greek Cypriots, and urges them to restore the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000.

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.