Security Council renews UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus

The UN Security Council Wednesday decided to renew a UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus for another six months to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone and undertake humanitarian activities, according to a resolution adopted Wednesday.

The council expressed its full support for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and decided to extend its mandate for a further period ending Jan. 31, 2016.

The council also welcomed the resumption of the leaders-led negotiations as well as the progress achieved so far and the ongoing efforts of the leaders and their negotiators to reach a comprehensive and durable settlement, and encouraged the sides to grasp the current opportunity with determination to secure a comprehensive settlement.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and controlled the north of the island after a coup by a group of Greek officers. For several decades, the United Nations has continuously worked to persuade the two communities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

The leaders of the divided Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus have resumed peace talks in May this year. Progress has been reported by the secretary-general's special adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide on Monday. The next meetings will be held on Sept. 1 and 14, according to Eide.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, continued to make progress towards their shared vision of a united, federal Cyprus, said Eide on Monday.

UNFICYP was originally set up by the Security Council in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the two communities. After the hostilities of 1974, the Security Council has mandated the force to perform certain additional functions.

In the absence of a political settlement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP has remained on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone, undertake humanitarian activities and support the good offices mission of the UN secretary-general.