UPDATE!: United Nations Security Council renews UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus

The UN Security Council have decided to renew a UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus for another six months to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone and undertake humanitarian activities.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member UN body expressed its full support for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and decided to extend its mandate for a further period ending July 31, 2015.

The council noted that progress made so far in the negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in the country has not been sufficient and has not led to a comprehensive and durable settlement, calling for an urgent resumption of structured negotiations to reach decisive progress on the core issues.

The council also calls on both sides to allow access to deminers and to facilitate the removal of the remaining mines in Cyprus within the buffer zone, and urges both sides to extend demining operations outside the buffer zone, said the resolution.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and controlled the north of the island after a coup by a group of Greek officers. For several decades, the United Nations has continuously worked to persuade the two communities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

UNFICYP was originally set up by the Security Council in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the two communities. After the hostilities of 1974, the Security Council has mandated the force to perform certain additional functions.

In the absence of a political settlement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP has remained on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone, undertake humanitarian activities and support the good offices mission of the UN secretary-general.

Credit: UNSC Report