Foreign ministry, negotiator welcome reviewal of Unficyp mandate

The foreign ministry has welcomed the unanimous renewal by the UN Security Council of the mandate for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus until July 31, 2021.

According to a news release, the ministry expressed satisfaction that through resolution 2561, the Security Council reaffirmed the basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem with explicit references in the preamble and in the operative part.

“It also reaffirms all its previous resolutions on Cyprus and notably, the particularly important Resolution 1251, which stipulates that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship, comprising two politically equal communities as described in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation,” the ministry said.

At the same time, it added, the Security Council expressed its full support for the Secretary-General’s Good Offices mission and to the existing body of work in relation to the negotiations, as well as for the Secretary-General’s efforts to convene an informal five plus the UN meeting, leading to the resumption of negotiations within a foreseeable horizon.

In relation to the Turkish violations in Varosha, the ministry noted that the Security Council reaffirmed the Presidential Statement of the Security Council of October 9, 2020, expressed its deep concern with developments, and called for the reversal of this course of action.

The resolution also “reiterates its call for the reduction of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and underlines that disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with applicable international law which constitutes a clear message towards Turkey”.

In a statement,  Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations Andreas Mavroyiannis also welcomed the adoption of the Unficyp resolution with the same mandate and the same strength and he thanked all members of the Security Council for the adoption of the resolution.

“The resolution just adopted is also very important for reasons that have to do with the current situation in Cyprus and the efforts for the resumption of the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.”