The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted resolution 2135, which renews the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for further six months, until July 31.
The resolution is exactly the same as the one of July last year, with the only difference being the fourth paragraph of the preamble, in which, the Security Council “recognizes the efforts made so far to restart talks”, while it expresses its regret that no formal talks have yet been started.
The resolution calls on the parties to agree, in a substantial way, for the talks to move forward as soon as possible.
This is the first time in two years that the Security Council unanimously adopts the resolution on UNFICYP.
In previous renewals over the past two years, Azerbaijan and Pakistan – which do not participate in the new composition of the Security Council – had voted against or abstained from voting on the grounds that their positions, which were the same as those of Ankara, had not been met.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.
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.
