SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS CYPRUS MANDATE UNTIL 30 JUNE 1996
Press Release
SC/6145
SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS CYPRUS MANDATE UNTIL 30 JUNE 1996
19951219 Welcomes Humanitarian Review Undertaken by UN Force; Expresses Concern about Military Modernization, Foreign TroopsThe Security Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 30 June 1996.
Unanimously adopting resolution 1032 (1995), the Council welcomed the humanitarian review undertaken by UNFICYP on the living conditions of the Greek Cypriots and the Maronites living in the northern part of the island and of Turkish Cypriots living in the southern part of the island. It supported UNFICYP's recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's report and decided to keep the matter under review.
The UNFICYP recommendations include, among other things, that: all restrictions on freedom of movement between the two parts of the island for Maronites located in the north and their family members be lifted; an independent and comprehensive review be undertaken of the policies and procedures of the Cyprus police with respect to their dealings with Turkish Cypriots in the southern part of the island; all restrictions on land travel by Greek Cypriots within the northern part of Cyprus be lifted; and restrictions on offshore fishing by the Greek Cypriots of the Karpas also be lifted.
Concerned with the continuing modernization and upgrading of military forces on the island and the lack of progress towards a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops in Cyprus, the Council also urged once again all concerned to commit themselves to such a reduction and to a reduction in defence spending in Cyprus to help restore confidence between the parties as a first step towards the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces. It called on the Secretary-General to promote efforts in that direction.
Noting that the Government of Cyprus had agreed on the necessity to keep the Force in Cyprus beyond 31 December, the Council requested the Secretary- General to keep under review the structure and strength of UNFICYP with a view to its possible restructuring, and to present any new considerations he might have in that regard.
The Council also welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to continue contacts with the leaders of both communities and requested him to submit a report during the coming mandate period on his mission of good offices, including the full assessment of his efforts towards reaching a settlement of the situation in Cyprus. It requested him to submit a report by 10 June 1996 on the implementation of the present resolution.
The meeting which began at 5:57 p.m., was adjourned at 6 p.m.
The full text of the resolution to be released as Council resolution 1032, reads as follows:
"The Security Council,
"Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cyprus of 10 December 1995 (S/1995/1020 and Add.1),
"Taking note of his recommendation that the Security Council extend the mandate of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP),
"Noting that the Government of Cyprus has agreed that in view of the prevailing conditions in the island it is necessary to keep the force in Cyprus beyond 31 December 1995,
"Reaffirming its earlier relevant resolutions on Cyprus, and in particular resolutions 186 (1964) of 4 March 1964 and 1000 (1995) of 23 June 1995,
"Expressing its concern that there has been no progress towards a final political solution,
"Noting that no progress has been made on extending the 1989 unmanning agreement,
"1. Decides to extend the mandate of UNFICYP for a further period ending on 30 June 1996;
"2. Calls upon the military authorities on both sides to ensure that no incidents occur along the buffer zone and to extend their full cooperation to UNFICYP;
"3. Requests the Secretary-General to keep under review the structure and strength of UNFICYP with a view to its possible restructuring, and to present any new considerations he may have in this regard;
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"4. Welcomes the humanitarian review undertaken by UNFICYP with regard to the living conditions of the Greek Cypriots and the Maronites living in the northern part of the island and of Turkish Cypriots living in the southern part of the island, supports UNFICYP's recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's report (S/1995/1020 and Add.1), and decides to keep the matter under review;
"5. Expresses concern about the continuing modernization and upgrading of military forces in the Republic of Cyprus and the lack of progress towards a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops in the Republic of cyprus, urges once again all concerned to commit themselves to such a reduction and to a reduction of defence spending in the Republic of Cyprus to help restore confidence between the parties and as a first step towards the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces as described in the set of ideas (S/24472, annex) and calls upon the Secretary-General to promote efforts in this direction;
"6. Expresses concern also about the failure by the military authorities on both sides to take reciprocal measures to prohibit along the cease-fire lines live ammunition or weapons other than those which are hand- held and to prohibit also the firing of weapons within sight or hearing of the buffer zone, and calls upon those authorities to enter into discussions with UNFICYP on this matter in line with paragraph 3 of resolution 839 (1993) of 11 June 1993;
"7. Regrets the failure to reach agreement on the extension of the 1989 unmanning agreement to cover all areas of the buffer zone where the two sides are in close proximity to each other, and calls upon the military authorities on both sides to cooperate urgently with UNFICYP to this end;
"8. Welcomes the initiative of UNFICYP in organizing successful bicommunal events, urges the leaders of both communities to promote tolerance, confidence and reconciliation between the two communities as recommended in the relevant reports of the Secretary-General, and calls upon them to promote further bicommunal contacts and to remove obstacles to such contacts;
"9. Welcomes the Secretary-General's decision to continue contacts with the two leaders, to make every effort to find common ground for the basis for a resumption of direct talks;
"10. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to early progress being made on the substance of the Cyprus question and on the implementation of the confidence-building measures as called for in resolution 939 (1994) of 29 July 1994;
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"11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report during the coming mandate period on his mission of good offices, including a full assessment of his efforts towards reaching a settlement of the situation in Cyprus;
"12. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report by 10 June 1996 on the implementation of the present resolution;
"13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter."
Secretary-General's Report
The Council took its decision today after considering the Secretary- General's report (document S/1995/1020 and Add.1) in which he stated that UNFICYP's presence on the island was indispensable to achieving the objectives set out by the Security Council. He recommended that the Force's mandate be extended for another six months at a cost of approximately $21.7 million.
In the report, which updates the record of activities of UNFICYP and the Secretary-General's mission of good offices pursuant to Council resolution 186 (1964) and subsequent resolutions, the Secretary-General expresses concern at the excessive levels of military forces and armaments in Cyprus and at the rate at which these are being strengthened.
Neither side has heeded the Council's repeated calls for a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops and in defence spending in Cyprus. It has also not been possible to make progress on modest measures aimed at reducing confrontations between the two sides along the cease-fire lines. During the reporting period, the Turkish forces continued to upgrade their equipment holdings. The National Guard, though weaker that the Turkish forces in Cyprus, has continued its comprehensive upgrading programme.
(In resolution 186 (1964) the Council defined the mandate as follows: "In the interest of preserving international peace and security to use its best efforts to prevent a recurrence of fighting and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and to return to normal conditions.")
The Secretary-General notes that the large attendance at the bicommunal events organized by UNFICYP in connection with the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations demonstrated that there is a strong desire on the part of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots to develop contacts and mutual understanding with their compatriots in the other community.
The report states that the Greek Cypriots and Maronites in the northern part of the island are unable to lead the normal life they were promised under
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the agreement reached between the two sides in 1995. While the Turkish Cypriot authorities have announced limited measures to improve the situation, much more needed to be done. The UNFICYP will pursue that matter and will follow up with the Government of Cyprus on the measures to eliminate discrimination against or harassment of the Turkish Cypriots living in the southern part of the island.
Referring to the Force's requirement to maintain the cease-fire, the report states that during the period under review both sides generally respected the cease-fire and the military status quo. While the firing of weapons was reported several times, most of the cases proved to be negligent discharges due to lack of discipline among soldiers. At the outset of the autumn hunting season, Greek Cypriot hunters on several occasions discharged firearms inside the buffer zone at members of UNFICYP causing slight injuries to one soldier and damage to an UNFICYP vehicle.
With regard to the good offices mission, the Secretary-General states that since his last report, his Special Representative and Deputy Special Representative have continued contacts with the leaders of the parties concerned with a view to finding a basis for a resumption of direct talks. He notes that almost all of the elements for a just and lasting settlement are on the table.
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