Talks continue, UNFICYP funding changed.

• Position: UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus - United Nations developments

A new round of joint talks between the leaders of the two communities - the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots - was held in New York from 24 May to 1 June. Begun in the summer of 1992, the talks are under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

The Security Council President and its five permanent members - China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States - attended the talks for the first time, together with the Secretary-General's new Special Representative for Cyprus, former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark, appointed on 21 May.

The Council on 11 June, as it extended the mandate of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 15 December 1993, called on both sides to the conflict in that country to carry forward, expeditiously and constructively, the intercommunal talks.

The negotiations are being held on the basis of the set of ideas put forward by the Secretary-General and endorsed by the Council in resolution 774 (1992) of 26 August. These include a list of confidence-building measures, including arrangements for reopening Nicosia International Airport and reopening the vacant city of Varosha under UN administration.

In unanimously adopting resolution 839 (1993), the Council asked the Secretary-General to report on progress in the current round of talks and to continue his good offices mission, and called upon all the parties concerned to continue to cooperate with UNFICYP on the basis of the present mandate.

Support was expressed for the Secretary-General's recommendation in his 9 June report (S/25912) that both sides take reciprocal measures to lower the tension, including mutual commitments through UNFICYP, not to deploy along the cease-fire lines live ammunition or weapons other than those which are hand-held and to prohibit the firing of weapons within sight or hearing of the buffer zone.

Change funding

procedure

On 27 May, in resolution 831 (1993), the Council had decided that UNFICYP's costs not covered by voluntary contributions should be financed by Member States through assessed contributions.

The Secretary-General had reported on 9 June that extending UNFICYP's mandate through 15 December would cost the Organization an estimated $22.5 million, $12.5 million of which was expected to be financed from voluntary contributions. The remaining $10 million would be sought from the General Assembly. UNFICYP was previously funded entirely by troop contributors and...