UN Security Council expected to renew UNFICYP mandate on January 28

The UN Security Council is expected to hold a meeting to adopt a resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate for another six months, on Thursday, January 28, according to a provisional programme drafted by Tunisia which holds the Council`s Presidency until December 31, 2021.

On January 14, a teleconference will take place between countries which are contributing personnel to UNFICYP, while on Tuesday, January 19, Security Council members will be briefed by UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar on matters to do with the Force and the good offices mission.

The UN Secretary General’s report about the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus is expected, on the basis of the programme, to be given to Security Council members on January 8. The report on the good offices mission will also be given to SC members on the same day or by Monday at the latest.

The United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), comprising military and civilian personnel from various contributing countries, arrived in Cyprus in March 1964 after intercommunal fighting broke out. The mandate of the force is renewed every six months by the Security Council. The latest renewal was in January this year.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.