UN Security Council extends mandate of peacekeeping force in Cyprus

[News_Editor]

UN Security Council extends mandate of peacekeeping force in Cyprus

2011-06-14 05:45:39 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday extended the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months.

The Council unanimously adopted a resolution in which it urged the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders to accelerate the reunification talks as well as improving the public atmosphere in which the negotiations are proceeding through more constructive and harmonized messages.

In addition, the two sides were advised to engage in the process in a constructive and open manner and work on reaching convergences on the remaining core issues in preparation for their meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon next July.

The 15-member Council stressed the need for increased flexibility and compromise in order to reach an agreement that will benefit all Cypriots. The panel considered that a solution is well within reach and is expecting decisive progress in the near future.

The UN has been sponsoring talks between Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Dervis Eroglu, in order to reunify the Mediterranean island, which has been split for almost 50 years. The UN-backed talks began in 2008 and both leaders have met over 90 times since.

The reunification meetings are seeking the establishment of a Federal Government with a single international personality, consisting of a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, each of equal status.

Cyprus, a Mediterranean island, has been divided since inter-communal violence erupted in 1964. The UN has maintained its peacekeeping mission known as UNFICYP which currently has nearly 1,000 uniformed personnel and 150 international and national civilian staff.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-14