UNFICYP mandate renewed

UN Chronicle, Spring, 1996

The mandate of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was renewed by the Security Council until 30 June 1996.

In unanimously adopting resolution 1032 (1995) on 19 December, the Council also called on the military authorities on both sides to ensure that no incidents occurred along the buffer zone and to extend their full cooperation to the Force. It requested the Secretary-General to keep under review the structure and strength of UNFICYP, with a view to its possible restructuring, and to present any new considerations he might have in that regard.

The Council further welcomed UNFICYP's humanitarian review of the living conditions of the Greek Cypriots and the Maronites living in the northern part of the island and of Turkish Cypriots in the southern part.

It supported UNFICYP's recommendations for improvements, which included the lifting of all restrictions on freedom of movement between the two parts of the island for Maronites in the north, land travel by Greek Cypriots within the northern part of Cyprus, and off-shore fishing by the Greek Cypriots of the Karpas region. Another recommendation was an independent and comprehensive review of the policies and procedures of the Cyprus police, particularly in their dealings with Turkish Cypriots in the south.

Concerned with the continuing modernization and upgrading of military forces and the lack of progress towards a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops in Cyprus, the Council urged once again all concerned to commit themselves to such a reduction, as well as to reducing defence spending, to help restore confidence between the parties and as a first step towards the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces.

The Council acted after reviewing the Secretary-General's report of 10 December (S/1995/1020 and Add. 1), in which he stated that UNFICYP's presence on the island was indispensable. He expressed concern at the excessive levels of military forces and armaments in Cyprus and at the rate at which these were being strengthened.

Neither side had heeded the Council's repeated calls for a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops and in defence spending, the report said. It had also not been possible to make progress on modest measures aimed at reducing confrontation between the two sides along the cease-fire lines. The Turkish forces had continued to upgrade their equipment, while the National Guard, though weaker than the Turkish forces, had continued its comprehensive upgrading programme.

The Secretary-General noted that the high attendance at the bicommunal events organized by UNFICYP for the fiftieth anniversary of the UN demonstrated that there was a strong desire on the part of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots to develop contacts and mutual understanding. He added that the Greek Cypriots and Maronites in the northern part of the island were prevented from leading the normal life they had been promised under the agreement reached by the two sides in Vienna on 2 August 1975.

While welcoming the limited measures announced by the Turkish Cypriot authorities to improve this situation, much more needed to be done. UNFICYP would also follow up with the Government of Cyprus on measures to eliminate any discrimination against or harassment of the Turkish Cypriots living in the south.