Security Council hopes for progress on Cyprus

The mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (Unficyp) is expected to be extended until January 31, 2026.

In its draft resolution, sponsored by the UK, the Security Council pointed out the importance of achieving an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in relevant Security Council resolutions.

“The status quo is unsustainable,” the Security Council said, “the situation on the ground is not static and the lack of an agreement furthers political tensions and deepens the estrangement of both communities, risking irreversible changes on the ground, and reducing the prospects of a settlement.”

The responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves, it added expressing support for the UN chief’s efforts to move things forward, including an informal dinner on October 15, 2024, and the subsequent meeting of the leaders with UN envoys on January 20 to explore the possibility of opening new crossing points.

The Security Council welcomed the leaders’ decision to meet again in the near future and encourages further progress in this regard.

The Council encouraged further rounds of informal talks and emphasised the importance of all involved approaching this process in the spirit of openness, flexibility and compromise.

Referring to Varosha, the Security Council expressed “deep regret regarding the continuation of unilateral actions that run contrary to its previous resolutions and statements on Varosha” and called for the immediate reversal of this course of action and of all steps taken on Varosha since October 2020 by the Turkish side.

The Security Council said it continues to follow developments in Pyla since August 2023 and stressed the “need to avoid any unilateral actions by either party that could raise tensions on the island and harm prospects for a settlement.”

It said all Cypriots would benefit from a solution of the Cyprus problem and “further urges the leaders of the two Cypriot communities and all involved parties to refrain from any actions and rhetoric that might damage the settlement process and that could raise tensions on the island.”

It called on both sides to reduce existing barriers to intercommunal contact and implement further confidence building measures.

The Security Council also called on the Turkish side to restore the military status quo in Strovilia and urged the leaders to promote a mine-free Cyprus,

The Security Council added that it found “the socioeconomic disparity between the two Cypriot communities has widened further,” risking further estrangement on the island.

The UN secretary-general will submit two reports on Unficyp during the renewed mandate period, one on July 4, 2025, and one on January 5, 2026.

Source: Cyprus Mail