Security Council

6339^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Mandate of Cyprus Force until 15 December,

 

Adopting Resolution 1930 (2010) by Vote of 14-1 (Turkey)

 

Echoing the Secretary-General’s view that a solution to the situation in Cyprus was “well within reach”, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force there, known as UNFICYP, for a further six months, until 15 December 2010.

Through the adoption of resolution 1930 (2010) by a vote of 14 in favour to 1 against (Turkey), the Council also urged the Greek and Turkish Cypriot parties to fully exploit the progress made so far in negotiations by intensifying the momentum of talks, preserving an atmosphere of trust and goodwill, and putting in place confidence-building measures, such as the opening of more crossing points.

It called on both sides to continue to consult with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone and to reach agreement on other outstanding issues, and called on the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military situation that existed before 30 June 2000.

In the Secretary-General’s latest report on Cyprus, he says that UNFICYP plays an essential role on the island, particularly its support of his good offices mission, and he calls for a range of confidence-building measures. (See Background)

Turkey’s representative, Ertuğrul Apakan, said he had voted against the resolution because, like all previous resolutions extending UNFICYP, it was formulated as if there was only one side on the island.  It was common knowledge that, since 1963, there had not been a joint and constitutional Government representing the whole of Cyprus.  Considering the Greek Cypriot Government as the Government of the whole island had been the main obstacle on the way to finding a just and lasting peace.  The open consent of the two parties on the item should have been sought.

He welcomed, however, the elements concerning the Secretary-General’s good offices mission contained in the resolution, despite misquotes in the statement issued by the two leaders on the island.  It contained the right message, confirming the common expectation that 2010 would be the year of solutions that would safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interest of the two peoples on the island.  He pledged that the Turkish side would continue to implement the provisions of the resolution and continue to fully support the efforts of the Secretary-General and cooperate with UNFICYP.

The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 10:18 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1930 (2010) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General of 28 May 2010 (S/2010/264) on the United Nations operation in Cyprus and of 11 May 2010 (S/2010/238) on his mission of good offices in Cyprus,

“Noting that the Government of Cyprus is agreed that in view of the prevailing conditions on the island it is necessary to keep the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) beyond 15 June 2010,

“Echoing the Secretary-General’s firm belief that the responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves, stressing that there now exists a unique opportunity to make decisive progress in a timely fashion, and reaffirming the primary role of the United Nations in assisting the parties to bring the Cyprus conflict and division of the island to a comprehensive and durable settlement,

“Commending the political leadership shown by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, and warmly welcoming the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the leaders’ joint statements, including those of 23 May and 1 July 2008,

“Strongly urging the leaders to increase the momentum in the negotiations to ensure the full exploitation of this opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions,

“Emphasizing the importance attached by the international community of all parties engaging fully, flexibly and constructively in the negotiations, echoing the Secretary-General’s view that a solution is well within reach, and looking forward to decisive progress in the near future building on the progress made to date consistent with the hope expressed by the two sides on 21 December 2009 that, if possible, 2010 would be the year of solution,

“Welcoming the intention of the Secretary General to keep the Council informed of further developments and progress, and noting the Secretary-General’s intention to submit a report in November 2010 on the state of the process,

“Welcoming also the implementation of some of the confidence-building measures announced by the leaders, and calling for a renewed effort to implement the remaining measures and for agreement on and implementation of further steps to build trust between the communities,

“Reaffirming the importance of continued crossings of the Green Line by Cypriots, encouraging the opening by mutual agreement of other crossing points, welcoming the continuing construction work towards opening the Limnitis/Yesilirmak crossing point and urging implementation of the second phase of the restoration of the Ledra Street crossing,

“Convinced of the many important benefits for all Cypriots that would flow from a comprehensive and durable Cyprus settlement, and encouraging both sides clearly to explain these benefits, as well as the need for increased flexibility and compromise in order to secure them, to both communities well in advance of any eventual referenda,

“Highlighting the supportive role the international community will continue to play in helping the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to exploit fully the current opportunity,

“Taking note of the assessment of the Secretary-General that the security situation on the island and along the Green Line remains stable, and urging all sides to avoid any action which could lead to an increase in tension, undermine the good progress achieved so far, or damage the goodwill on the island,

“Recalling the Secretary-General’s firm belief that the situation in the buffer zone would be improved if both sides accepted the 1989 aide memoire used by the United Nations,

“Welcoming the progress made in proceeding with demining activities, and looking forward to the clearance of the remaining minefields,

“Welcoming the progress and continuation of the important activities of the Committee on Missing Persons, and trusting that this process will promote reconciliation between the communities,

“Agreeing that active participation of civil society groups is essential to the political process and can contribute to making any future settlement sustainable, welcoming all efforts to promote bicommunal contacts and events including, inter alia, on the part of all United Nations bodies on the island, and urging the two sides to promote the active engagement of civil society and the encouragement of cooperation between economic and commercial bodies and to remove all obstacles to such contacts,

“Stressing the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments,

“Welcoming the intention of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping operations, including those of UNFICYP, under close review and noting the importance of contingency planning in relation to the settlement, including recommendations as appropriate for further adjustments to UNFICYP’s mandate, force levels and concept of operations, taking into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties,

“Welcoming the continued efforts of Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor with a mandate to assist the parties in the conduct of fully-fledged negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement, expressing appreciation for the work of Tayé Brook Zerihoun as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, and welcoming the appointment of Lisa Buttenheim as the Secretary-General’s new Special Representative,

“Echoing also the Secretary-General’s gratitude to the Government of Cyprus and the Government of Greece for their voluntary contributions to the funding of UNFICYP, and his request for further voluntary contributions from other countries and organizations,

“Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in all its peacekeeping operations,

“1.   Welcomes the analysis of developments on the ground over the last six months in the Secretary-General’s reports, in accordance with his mandate;

“2.   Welcomes also the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the prospect of further progress in the near future towards a comprehensive and durable settlement that this has created;

“3.   Urges full exploitation of this opportunity, including by intensifying the momentum of negotiations, preserving the current atmosphere of trust and goodwill, and engaging in the process in a constructive and open manner;

“4.   Urges also the implementation of confidence-building measures, and looks forward to agreement on and implementation of further such steps, including the opening of other crossing points;

“5.   Reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, in particular resolution 1251 (1999) of 29 June 1999 and subsequent resolutions;

“6.   Expresses its full support for UNFICYP and decides to extend its mandate for a further period ending 15 December 2010;

“7.   Calls on both sides to continue to engage, as a matter of urgency and while respecting UNFICYP’s mandate, in consultations with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone, and on the United Nations 1989 aide-memoire, with a view to reaching early agreement on outstanding issues;

“8.   Calls on the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000;

“9.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on implementation of this resolution, including on contingency planning in relation to the settlement, by 1 December 2010 and to keep the Security Council updated on events as necessary;

“10.  Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNFICYP to implement the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including the conduct of pre-deployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

“11.  Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

Background

The Security Council had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Operation in Cyprus (document S/2010/264), covering developments from 21 November 2009 to 20 May 2010.

In the report, the Secretary-General recommends that the Security Council extend the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for six months, until 15 December 2010, citing its essential role on the island, particularly its support of his good offices mission.

Both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, the report says, have continued to rely on UNFICYP for help on matters ranging from humanitarian and economic matters to bicommunal issues affecting their daily lives, especially in the buffer zone.

Set up in March 1964 following the outbreak of violence between the two communities, the mission is tasked with preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to a return to normal conditions and the maintenance of law and order.

In 2008, the leaders of the two communities committed to establishing a federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, each of equal status.

Power-sharing negotiations, backed by the United Nations, began in September of that year, with the two communities having met dozens of times since then.

During the reporting period, according to the Secretary-General, the situation in the buffer zone remained calm.  The number of military violations has increased compared to the previous reporting period, but most of them were of a minor nature with respect to maintaining the status quo.

He says that, regrettably, however, restrictions on the movement of locally employed United Nations civilian personnel continue, and he calls on the Turkish Cypriot authorities to respect their obligations in that regard.

The Secretary-General expresses hope that the opposing forces, which he says have demonstrated overall good cooperation with UNFICYP, will respond positively to the ongoing efforts of UNFICYP to advance discussions on military confidence-building measures.

In addition, he says that setting up economic, social, cultural, sports and other ties between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities can play a crucial role in promoting progress in the reunification talks under way on the Mediterranean island.

He stresses that enhanced economic and social parity between the sides will make “the eventual reunification not only easier, but also more likely.”

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For information media • not an official record