UN Security Council involvement in two major crises, those of the Gaza Strip offensives and the Malaysian aircraft crash in Ukraine, has delayed discussions among the five permanent members of the Security Council on the British draft resolution on the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which were set to begin last week.
Discussions on UNFICYP are expected to begin on Tuesday or Wednesday, while Cyprus` Permanent Representation to the UN is continuing contacts regarding a couple of points in the draft.
According to diplomatic sources, Russia is not aware of a Security Council recommendation to the UN Secretary General to appoint a special adviser on the Cyprus issue in the near future.
On Wednesday, the Security Council will be meeting with the countries contributing to UNFICYP with staff, and on Thursday the Security Council will be briefed by the UN chief`s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim.
The meeting to adopt the resolution has been set for July 30.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest UN-led round of peace talks began in February this year with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite the country.