Security Council extends mandate of Cyprus force until 15 June 1986.

Security Council extends mandate of Cyprus Force until 15 June 1986

The Security Council on 12 December 1985 unanimously extended the mandate of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months until 15 June 1986. The Cyprus Force has been in place since 1964.

The Council, in its resolution 578 (1985), also called upon all parties concerned to continue to co-operate with the Force "on the basis of the present mandate". The Secretary-General was asked to continue his mission of good offices, to keep the Council informed of the progress made and to submit a report on implementation of the resolution by 31 May 1986.

Established by Security Council resolution 186 of 4 March 1964, the Force has the task of preventing a recurrence of fighting and helping to bring back normal conditions to the island. It continues to supervise the cease-fire lines in Cyprus and to perform certain humanitarian tasks.

With a total strength of 2,328--2,292 troops and 36 civilian police--UNFICYP is under the command of Major-General Gunther G. Greindl. Contributing countries are: Australia (20 civilian police); Austria (301); Canada (515); Denmark (341); Finland (10); Ireland (8); Sweden (376 troops and 16 civilian police); and the United Kingdom (741). UNFICYP also has 34 international civilian staff members. The Force has suffered 138 fatal casualties since its inception.

In his report on the United Nations operation in Cyprus from 1 June 1985 to 9 December 1985 (S/17657 and Add. 1 and 2), the Secretary-General stated that during his discussions with Rauf Denktash, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot-community, and President Spyros Kyprianou of the Republic of Cyprus, in September and October 1985 respectively, he had pointed out the "significant progress" that had been made since August 1984 and had stressed the vital importance of preserving all that had been achieved since then.

Based on what both sides had told him, common views existed on elements which should make up an agreement, on contents of most of those elements, and on issues that remained to be negotiated after that agreement had been reached, he said. The outstanding differences between the two sides were "not insurmountable" and should therefore be amenable to an early solution.

President Kyprianou and Mr. Denktash had agreed with his objective and approach, including his proposal that lower-level discussions take place between their representatives and his aides to review the positions of the parties and "undertake soundings" on the outstanding issues. Those talks, the Secretary-General felt, should be helpful in the preparation of the draft agreement which he intended to submit to both sides for their consideration, and in which he would incorporate what had been achieved to date while attempting to reconcile the remaining differences.

Accordingly, lower-level discussions had taken place on 18 and 19 November 1985 in London with the Turkish Cypriot side, and on 30 November and 1 December in Ceneva with the Greek Cypriot side. Those discussions had proved useful and both sides agreed that they be continued during the first half of January 1986.

Since August 1984, the Secretary-General stated, he had worked intensively with both sides to assist them in reaching an agreement on the framework for a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem. That effort had brought the two sides within reach of an agreement. While the agreement would commit the two sides to work towards an overall solution within an agreed framework, the details of a number of its elements would thereafter have to be negotiated to their satisfaction.

That approach, according to the Secretary-General, would provide each side with ample opportunities to assure itself of the commitment and good intentions of the other. However, unless the two sides were willing to take that step and agree on the framework, no further progress could be expected. An important opportunity was at hand. Working with determination and in co-operation with the Secretary-General, it should be possible for the two sides to resolve the few remaining issues.

UNFICYP operations: The Secretary-General said the continued presence of UNFICYP remained indispensable in helping to maintain calm on the island and in creating the conditions in which the search...