Security Council renews force mandate.

• Position: UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

The Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus

I (UNFICYP) until 31 December 1994. The action came on 15 June, two weeks after the Secretary-General reported that "regrettably" his hopes had been dashed on the question Cypriot communities on a packge of confidence-building measures.

In unanimously adopting resolution 927 (1994), the Council stressed the urgent need to implement the package proposed by the Secretary-General. It urged all concerned to commit to a significant reduction in the number of foreign troops in Cyprus and to reduce defence spending to help restore confidence between the parties. It also urged both leaders to promote tolerance and reconciliation between their communities.

The package included the reopening of Nicosia international Airport and the fenced area of the town of Varosha. The leaders of the the Greek and Turkish' Cypriot communities had both accepted the package in principle in February 1994.

The Council also asked for a review of UNFICYP structure and strength, with a view to possible restructuring. It stressed that it would conduct a thorough review of the UN role in Cyprus and the progress achieved towards a political settlement.

The Secretary-General, in recommending the renewal of UNFICYP's mandate on 7 June (S/1994/680), stated that the Force had maintained close liaison with both sides, but had been unsuccessful in increasing its freedom of movement in the northern part of the island, despite the assurances given to it.

The Secretary-General on 30 May had reported SI!9941629) that his. representatives in Cyprus had continued to pursue their efforts to obtain an agreement, even after their discussions with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community had not yielded the necessary response. The Security Council could examine a range of options in its review of this deeply unsatisfactory situation, the Secretary-General stated.

One option would be to conclude that, despite 30 years of endeavour, the political will for a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus dispute simply did not exist and that UN resources should be redirected to other disputes and conflicts where there might be a greater chance of success.

A second option would be to conclude that a good offices mission, which by its nature was dependent on the consent and cooperation of the parties, was not an adequate method to deal with a situation in which for the past several years one side had consistently...