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)