Security Council

6554^th Meeting (AM)

Security Council Extends Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus until 15 December 2011,

 

Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1986 (2011)

 

Welcoming progress made so far in “fully fledged negotiations” between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, the Security Council this morning called on them to intensify the momentum of the talks as it extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 15 December 2011.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1986 (2011), the Council looked forward to the implementation of further confidence-building actions, including military confidence-building measures and the opening of more crossing points between the sectors of the divided island.

Also by the resolution, the Council called on the two sides to continue to engage as a matter of urgency, in consultation with UNFICYP, on demarcation of the buffer zone, and on the 1989 United Nations aide memoire, with a view to reaching early agreement on outstanding issues.  It also called on the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to restore the military status quo existing in Strovilia prior to 30 June 2000.

It also called on both sides to allow access to deminers to the buffer zone, facilitating the removal of the remaining mines there, and urged them to extend demining operations beyond the zone, as well.

In his latest report (document S/2011/332), the Secretary-General recommends the extension of UNFICYP, saying that the mission continues to play an important role on the island in maintaining calm, fostering bicommunal cooperation and trust, and was working closely with United Nations units actively engaged in promoting an atmosphere conducive to negotiations.  He pledges to continue contingency planning to adapt the United Nations presence to any changes brought about by the talks.

Before the resolution’s adoption, Nelson Messone of Gabon, which holds the Council’s presidency for the month of June, noted that the two parties had been consulted on the text.

The meeting began at 10:10 a.m. and ended at 10:15 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1986 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General of 31 May 2011 (S/2011/332) on the United Nations operation in Cyprus and of 4 March 2011 (S/2011/112) 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 2011,

“Echoing the Secretary-General’s firm belief that the responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves, 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,

“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,

“Expressing concern at the continued slow pace of progress, stressing that the status quo is unsustainable, and strongly urging the leaders to increase the momentum in the negotiations, particularly on the core issues, to reach an enduring, comprehensive and just 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, including leading up to the Secretary-General’s meeting with the leaders in July 2011, building on the progress made to date,

“Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to stimulate progress during his meeting with the two leaders on 26 January 2011, his intention to meet with the two leaders in July 2011, and noting his intention to submit to the Security Council in July 2011 an updated assessment on the state of the process,

“Noting the need to advance the consideration of and discussions on military confidence-building measures, calling for renewed efforts to implement all remaining confidence-building 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, and encouraging the opening by mutual agreement of other crossing points,

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

“Considering that undermining the United Nations credibility undermines the peace process itself,

“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 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,

“Noting with regret that the sides are withholding access to the remaining minefields in the buffer zone, and that demining in Cyprus has ceased as a result, noting the continued danger posed by mines in Cyprus, and urging rapid agreement on facilitating the recommencement of demining operations and 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 also the continued efforts of Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser with a mandate to assist the parties in the conduct of fully fledged negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement, and the efforts of Lisa Buttenheim as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative,

“Echoing 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, and expressing appreciation to Member States that contribute personnel to UNFICYP,

“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 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;

“2    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2011/112);

“3.   Recalls Security Council resolution 1953 (2010), and calls upon the two leaders to:

(a)   intensify the momentum of negotiations, 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 the Secretary-General in July 2011;

(b)   improve the public atmosphere in which the negotiations are proceeding, including by focusing public messages on convergences and the way ahead, and delivering more constructive and harmonized messages; and

(c)   increase the participation of civil society in the process as appropriate;

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

“5.   Urges all parties to be more forthcoming in accommodating the Committee for Missing Persons exhumation requirements throughout the island, including in military areas in the north;

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

“7.   Expresses its full support for UNFICYP and decides to extend its mandate for a further period ending 15 December 2011;

“8.   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;

“9.   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;

“10.  Calls on both sides to allow access to deminers and to facilitate the removal of the remaining mines in Cyprus within the buffer zone, and urges both sides to extend demining operations outside the buffer zone;

“11.  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 2011 and to keep the Security Council updated on events as necessary;

“12.  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 predeployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

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

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For information media • not an official record