Security Council extends mandate of UN Cyprus mission

The Security Council today extended through mid-December the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the mission that monitors the ceasefire lines extending some 180 kilometres across the island.

By a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council took note of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's assessment that the security situation on the island continues to be stable, and the situation along the Green Line remains calm, but that nonetheless, there were problems in "a few sensitive areas."

The Council also took note of the lifting of restrictions of movement of UNFICYP staff by the Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish forces, and took note that UNFICYP "enjoys good cooperation from both sides." It also called on them to restore in Strovilia – a small hamlet inhabited by Greek Cypriots – the military status quo that existed there before 30 June 2000.

UNFICYP's mandate, which was set to expire today, will now run through 15 December 2005.

The Security Council also welcomed Mr. Annan's intention to keep the operations of UNFICYP under close review, continuing to take into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties, and to revert to the Council with recommendations for further adjustments as appropriate to UNFICYP's mandate, force levels and concept of operation once he judges that sufficient time has passed since the implementation of UNFICYP's new concept of operations to make this assessment.