The United Nations Security Council on Thursday extended for
another six months the mandate of the 40-year-old UN peacekeeping
mission in the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution extending
the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
through Dec. 15, urging both sides "to avoid any action which could
lead to an increase in tension."
The council also regretted that "the gap between words and deeds
remains too great for the (UN) secretary-general to resume fully
his good offices mission and urging progress towards the resumption
of negotiations for a comprehensive settlement."
Speaking to reporters in New York earlier in the day, UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan also emphasized this point, saying
that he wanted to see "more action than words" between the leaders
of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, but he
acknowledged that the situation was not an easy one to resolve.
"The situation has been complicated further by the fact that
Cyprus is now a member of the European Union and Turkey is seeking
to join the European Union ... So when you are negotiating and you
have one country sitting in the club and the other seeking to join
the club, it does not make it easier."
Annan said that Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs
Ibrahim Gambari would travel to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey in the
near future to test the water for a possible settlement. But the UN
chief added he "cannot promise" to resolve the situation on the
island before his tenure ends on Dec. 31.
Established to prevent further fighting between the Greek
Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, UNFICYP remains on the
island to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone, and
undertake humanitarian activities.
(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2006)
