Security Council extends UN Cyprus force for another six months

The Security Council today unanimously extended the mandate of the 40-year-old United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months, and urged the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to rescind all remaining restrictions on the mission in the divided Mediterranean island.

Acting on a report from Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Council also expressed “concern at the further continuing violations by the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces” at Strovilia, a small hamlet inhabited by Greek Cypriots. As in its previous resolution in June, it urged them to restore the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000.

In his report Mr. Annan says that although the situation along the ceasefire lines is stable with "a remarkable low number of incidents" in crossings, only a comprehensive settlement will end the island’s problems.

He states that the Turkish Cypriot authorities "regrettably" have failed to provide uninhibited access and full freedom of movement and urges them to allow the Force to "carry out its mandate throughout its entire area of responsibility."

Reiterating that only a comprehensive settlement will end the Cyprus problem, he adds: “In the absence of such a comprehensive settlement, the presence of UNFICYP on the island continues to be necessary for the maintenance of the ceasefire."

Among its various duties, UNFICYP monitors the ceasefire lines, 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.

Today’s resolution extends the mandate until 15 June, 2004.