UNFICYP mandate renewed.

• Position: UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

The mandate of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was renewed by the Security Council until 30 June 1996.

In unanimously adopting resolution 1032 (1995) on 19 December, the Council also called on the military authorities on both sides to ensure that no incidents occurred along the buffer zone and to extend their full cooperation to the Force. It requested the Secretary-General to keep under review the structure and strength of UNFICYP, with a view to its possible restructuring, and to present any new considerations he might have in that regard.

The Council further welcomed UNFICYP's humanitarian review of the living conditions of the Greek Cypriots and the Maronites living in the northern part of the island and of Turkish Cypriots in the southern part.

It supported UNFICYP's recommendations for improvements, which included the lifting of all restrictions on freedom of movement between the two parts of the island for Maronites in the north, land travel by Greek Cypriots within the northern part of Cyprus, and off-shore fishing by the Greek Cypriots of the Karpas region. Another recommendation was an independent and comprehensive review of the policies and procedures of the Cyprus police, particularly in their dealings with Turkish Cypriots in the south.

Concerned with the continuing modernization and upgrading of military forces and the lack of progress towards a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops in Cyprus, the Council urged once again all concerned to commit themselves to such a reduction, as well as to reducing defence spending, to help restore confidence between the parties and as a first step towards the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces.

The Council acted after reviewing the Secretary-General's report of 10 December (S/1995/1020 and Add. 1), in which he...