Cypriot Government Satisfied with Resolution Renewing UNFICYP Mandate

By Apostolis Zoupaniotis
United Nations, Dec 15 (CNA) — The Government of Cyprus expressed satisfaction over the adoption by the Security Council of Resolution 1728 on Friday, renewing the mandate of UNFICYP for six more months.

The Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution, expressing full support for the process agreed by the leaders on 8th July, encouraging active participation in bicommunal discussions as described in Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambariʼs letter of 15 November 2006, under the auspices of the SRSG, and calls for early completion of the preparatory phase so that a fully-fledged Good Offices process may resume as soon as possible.

In a statement, Cyprusʼ Permanent Representative to the UN Andreas Mavroyiannis expressed the governmentʼs “satisfaction of the adoption by SC Resolution 1728 renewing the mandate of UNFICYP for six more months”, noting that “the Resolution is a satisfactory one, that addresses the main issues and the renewal is for the Force to remain as it is right now, the same strength, the same numbers, the same concept of operations and the same mandate”.

He also expressed the Cypriot governmentʼs “appreciation to the Council for supporting the ongoing process and the effort to start technical discussions in order to prepare the ground for full-fledged negotiations as soon as there is sufficient progress”.

“We also express our appreciation to all members of the SC, to the DPKO, to the Secretariat, the Special Representative of the SG and to all the troop-contributing countries that maintain UNFICYP in Cyprus, a presence which is necessary as long as the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus persists”, he concluded.

In a statement after the adoption of the resolution, Greeceʼs Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Adamantios Th. Vassilakis noted that today was “the last time that Greece participates, in her capacity as non permanent member of the Security Council, in a meeting on an issue of utmost importance for my country, i.e. Cyprus”.

Expressing Greeceʼs heartfelt appreciation, to UNFICYP, DPKO and the Secretariat in general for all their hard work and contributions to maintaining stability on the island”, he also thanked all troop contributing countries for their continued presence.

“We all very well understand the magnitude of the ever-increasing global demands on the United Nations peacekeeping resources and we are mindful that UNFICYP does not stay one day more than absolutely necessary. We sincerely hope that this day comes really soon”, Vassilakis said, noting that “in the absence of a comprehensive settlement and the withdrawal of all occupation troops from the island, UNFICYP is necessary and the contribution of the United Nations is highly appreciated and-of course-never taken for granted”.

Vassilakis also noted that a “Cypriot-owned solution through a Cypriot-owned process with the invaluable assistance of the international community, that is the way forward”.

He said all agree that the present status quo is unsustainable. The two communities have also agreed on the basic form of the reunification of the island, a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

“We now have to build upon what has already been achieved. The 8 July agreement gives us the platform on which to work carefully and prepare the ground so that we achieve the necessary progress that will allow the whole political process to move forward and lead to a comprehensive, permanent and durable settlement. A settlement that respects international legality and conforms with both the United Nations Resolutions and the norms and principles of the European Union”, he added.