Cyprus Satisfied with S.C. Resolution on UNFICYP

United Nations.- by Apostolis Zoupaniotis
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Friday resolution 1789 (2007) renewing the mandate of the UN Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 15 June 2008.
The resolution includes positive wording which weakens significantly negative references in the UN Secretary-Generalʼs report on Cyprus and creates a positive precedent.

The Security Council expresses full support for the 8 July process, notes with deep concern the lack of any progress, and calls upon all parties immediately to engage constructively with the United Nations efforts, as described in Under-Secretary-General Gambariʼs letter of 15 November 2006 and to cease mutual recriminations.

It also urges all parties to show flexibility and political will over the coming months to make measurable progress which will allow fully fledged negotiations to begin.

Cyprus Permanent Representative to the UN Andreas Mavroyiannis expressed the Cyprus government’s appreciation to the members of the Security Council for adopting resolution 1789 prolonging the presence of the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for six more months on the basis of the recommendation of the Secretary General that this presence is necessary.

On his part UK Permanent Representative to the UN Sir John Sawers said ”the United Kingdom worked hard to achieve consensus on this”, adding that in 2008 there is a window of opportunity for Cyprus and expressing hope that leaders will take that opportunity.

In a statement to the press, Mavroyiannis said that ”we earnestly believe that this presence is necessary as long as the occupation of the territory of part of our country continues,” adding that ”we also appreciated the fact the Security Council has launched a very strong appeal for the implementation of the 8 of July Agreement which is the only game in town, the only process that can allow us to eventually achieve, through progress, a meaningful negotiation for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

Mavroyiannis noted that the Cyprus government had some reservations and objections with regard to some elements in the report of the Secretary General, in particular concerning the so-called question of the “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriot community, noting that ”we are very happy that the Security Council refrained from cautioning an interpretation which would have been dangerous.”

”Therefore overall we are happy with the content of the resolution just adopted by the Council and we look forward to cooperating closely both with the members of the Council and with the Secretary General and the Special Representative for the months ahead,” he added.

On his part Sir Sawers said ”the United Kingdom worked hard to achieve consensus on this. We worked closely with the Representatives of the Government of Cyprus here and with those of the other Guarantor Powers, Greece and Turkey and we are very glad that we achieved consensus and reflected the views of all delegations in the resolution.”

He noted that ”2008 will be an important year for Cyprus, Presidential elections in February and an opportunity to take forward the peace process and we hope that we will succeed and will have every effort been made by all parties to move that peace process forward.”

Invited to say if he is so optimist that next year there will be very promising in respect of settlement on the island of Cyprus, the British diplomat said that ”we all recognize that time is not on the side of the sort of bicommunal bifederal settlement that has been supported in principle by both sides in the last few years.”

”I think when the political position in Cyprus and including in the north, is settled for a period, thatʼs an opportunity for leaders to get together and to explore whether there is prospect. So in 2008, thereʼs a window of opportunity there. We hope the leaders will take that opportunity,” he concluded.

IN NICOSIA
In a written statement, Government Spokesman Vassilis Palmas noted a number of positive points and references included in the resolution, as a result, as he said, “of the tireless efforts by President Papadopoulos and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for a functional and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

“The Government of the Republic of Cyprus expresses its satisfaction with the resolution which fully supports the 8 July Agreement and the Gambari process, as expressed in its letter to the leaders of the two communities on November 15, 2006,” Palmas said.

He added that the resolution also includes the following positive points:
- It imperatively asks for the necessary political will to be shown with a view to achieve serious progress during the next months, a reference addressed to the Turkish side, which has not so far shown the political will for the implementation of the 8 July Agreement,

- It does not adopt the references of the Secretary Generalʼs report for the Turkish Cypriotsʼ so-called isolation

- It reaffirms the position that the responsibility of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves

- It is the first resolution after Turkish President Abdullah Gulʼs visit to the occupied areas and his known references for “two states, two peoples and two religions” where it is confirmed that the solution pursued is a bi-communal, bizonal federation with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship.

- For the issue of the opening of the check-point at Ledra Street, our position for the opening of more check-points is adopted. It also interrelates the issue with the respect of the UNFICYP mandate vindicating our own position

- It says that next year offers a window of opportunity in efforts to pursue a Cyprus settlement, that must be grasped by all the engaged parties

- It welcomes the proposals submitted for Confidence Building Measures and encourages their early implementation

- It calls for the removal of obstacles raised to the economic and commercial cooperation and contacts in general between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, something which constitutes a clear message towards the Turkish side

- It welcomes the actions of the Republic of Cyprus aiming at resolving the problems which peace-keepers face and expresses gratitude to the Government of Cyprus for the financial contribution to UNFICYP

- It reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, in particular resolution 1251 of June 29, 1999, which calls on all states to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and abstain from actions that may harm this sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,

- It reaffirms the position that the Cyprus settlement must be based on a single Cypriot state, with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, ensuring its independence and territorial integrity, with two politically equal communities, in line with the UN relevant resolutions, on the basis of a bi-communal, bizonal federation.