March 29, 2024

Archives for January 2014

S/RES/2135 (2014)

   United Nations

S/RES/2135(2014)

Security Council Distr.: General

30 January 2014

 

 

 


Resolution 2135 (2014)

                             Adopted by the Security Council at its 7106th meeting, on
30 January 2014

The Security Council,

           Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 30 December 2013 (S/2013/781) on the United Nations operation in Cyprus,

           Noting that the Government of Cyprus is agreed that in view of the prevailing conditions on the island it is necessary to keep the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) beyond 31 January 2014,

           Noting the intention of the Secretary-General to report on his Good Offices in the next reporting period, and echoing the Secretary-General’s firm belief that the responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves, and reaffirming the primary role of the United Nations in assisting the parties to bring the Cyprus conflict and division of the island to a comprehensive and durable settlement,

           Acknowledging the efforts made so far to restart talks, expressing disappointment that formal negotiations have not yet resumed, and calling on the parties to agree on a substantive way forward as soon as possible,

           Recalling the importance attached by the international community to all parties engaging fully, flexibly and constructively in the negotiations, and noting that the move towards a more intensive phase of negotiations has not yet resulted in an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions, encouraging the sides to resume the substantive negotiations on the core issues, and stressing that the status quo is unsustainable,

           Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to stimulate progress during his meeting with the two leaders on 31 October 2011 and 23 January 2012, and expressing continued support for his efforts,

           Noting the need to advance the consideration of and discussions on military confidence building measures, calling for renewed efforts to implement all remaining confidence building measures, and for agreement on and implementation of further steps to build trust between the communities,

           Reaffirming the importance of continued crossings of the Green Line by Cypriots, and encouraging the opening by mutual agreement of other crossing points,

           Convinced of the many important benefits, including economic benefits, for all Cypriots that would flow from a comprehensive and durable Cyprus settlement, urging the two sides and their leaders to foster positive public rhetoric, and encouraging them clearly to explain the benefits of the settlement, as well as the need for increased flexibility and compromise in order to secure it, to both communities well in advance of any eventual referenda,

           Considering that undermining the United Nations’ credibility undermines the peace process itself,

           Highlighting the importance of the supporting role of the international community, and in particular that of the parties concerned in taking practical steps towards helping the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to exploit fully the current opportunity,

           Taking note of the assessment of the Secretary-General that the security situation on the island and along the Green Line remains stable, and urging all sides to avoid any action which could lead to an increase in tension, undermine the progress achieved so far, or damage the goodwill on the island,

           Recalling the Secretary-General’s firm belief that the situation in the buffer zone would be improved if both sides accepted the 1989 aide-memoire used by the United Nations,

           Noting with regret that the sides are withholding access to the remaining minefields in the buffer zone, and that demining in Cyprus must continue, noting the continued danger posed by mines in Cyprus, and urging rapid agreement on facilitating the recommencement of demining operations and clearance of the remaining minefields,

           Highlighting the importance of the activities of the Committee on Missing Persons, urging the opening up of access to all areas to allow the Committee to carry out their work, and trusting that this process will promote reconciliation between the communities,

           Agreeing that active participation of civil society groups, including women’s groups, is essential to the political process and can contribute to making any future settlement sustainable, recalling that women play a critically important role in peace processes, welcoming all efforts to promote bicommunal contacts and events including, inter alia, on the part of all United Nations bodies on the island, and urging the two sides to promote the active engagement of civil society and the encouragement of cooperation between economic and commercial bodies and to remove all obstacles to such contacts,

           Stressing the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments,

           Welcoming the intention of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping operations under close review to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, including a review of UNFICYP when appropriate, and noting the importance of contingency planning in relation to the settlement, including recommendations as appropriate for further adjustments to UNFICYP’s mandate, force levels and other resources and concept of operations, taking into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties,

           Welcoming also the continued efforts of Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor with a mandate to assist the parties in the conduct of fully-fledged negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement, and the efforts of Lisa Buttenheim as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative,

           Echoing the Secretary-General’s gratitude to the Government of Cyprus and the Government of Greece for their voluntary contributions to the funding of UNFICYP, and his request for further voluntary contributions from other countries and organizations, and expressing appreciation to member states that contribute personnel to UNFICYP,

           Welcoming and encouraging efforts by the United Nations to sensitize peacekeeping personnel in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in all its peacekeeping operations,

           1.       Acknowledges the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, but notes that this has not been sufficient and has not yet resulted in a comprehensive and durable settlement, and urges the sides to continue their discussions to reach decisive progress on the core issues;

           2.       Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/781);

           3.       Recalls Security Council resolution 2026 (2011), and calls upon the two leaders to:

           (a)     Put their efforts behind further work on reaching convergences on the core issues;

           (b)     Continue to work with the Technical Committees with the objective of improving the daily lives of the Cypriots;

           (c)     Improve the public atmosphere for the negotiations, including by focussing public messages on convergences and the way ahead, and delivering more constructive and harmonised messages; and

           (d)     Increase the participation of civil society in the process as appropriate;

           4.       Urges the implementation of confidence-building measures, and looks forward to agreement on and implementation of further such steps, including military confidence building measures and the opening of other crossing points;

           5.       Welcomes all efforts to accommodate the Committee on Missing Persons exhumation requirements and calls upon all parties to provide full access;

           6.       Reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus, in particular resolution 1251 (1999) of 29 June 1999 and subsequent resolutions;

           7.       Expresses its full support for UNFICYP and decides to extend its mandate for a further period ending 31 July 2014;

           8.       Calls on both sides to continue to engage, as a matter of urgency and while respecting UNFICYP’s mandate, in consultations with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone, and on the United Nations 1989 aide-memoire, with a view to reaching early agreement on outstanding issues;

           9.       Calls on the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkish forces to restore in Strovilia the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000;

           10.     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;

           11.     Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on implementation of this resolution, including on contingency planning in relation to the settlement, by 10 July 2014 and to keep the Security Council updated on events as necessary;

           12.     Welcomes the efforts being undertaken by UNFICYP to implement the Secretary-General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to ensure full compliance of its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct, requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary action in this regard and to keep the Security Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including the conduct of pre-deployment awareness training, and to take disciplinary action and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

           13.     Decides to remain seized of the matter.

 

 

 

 

          

Statement by the Senior Deputy Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations, Mr. Mahmoud Daifallah Mahmoud Hmoud, on his capacity as President of the Security Council on Cyprus, 22 January 2014

“During consultations today the Security Council heard briefings from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus Mr. Lisa Buttenheim and the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General Mr. Alexander Downer. [Read more…]

Welcome to our Website

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 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Statement by the Commissioner on Gender Equality of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms. Iosifina Christodoulou

General Discussion – 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

New York, 18 March 2024

Madame Chair,

Cyprus aligns with the statement delivered by the European Union. Allow me to add some remarks with my national capacity.

I am deeply honoured to address the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, dedicated to such important priority theme. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the bureau of the Commission on the Status of Women for organizing this critical meeting.

The urgency of this year’s priority theme cannot be overstated. Despite efforts made in recent years, gender inequalities persist, obstructing the full realization of women’s and girls human rights worldwide. The feminization of poverty remains a harsh reality, which is the result of economic marginalization, of limited access to education, to healthcare, to financial resources and restricted employment opportunities.

The whole statement

 

S/2013/781 – Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cyprus

United Nations

S/2013/781

  Security Council
Distr.: General

30 December 2013

Original: English

 


REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE UNITED NATIONS
OPERATION IN CYPRUS

I.   Introduction 

1.       The present report on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) covers developments from 21 June to 15 December 2013 and brings up to date, since the issuance of my report (S/2013/392) dated 5 July 2013, the record of activities carried out by UNFICYP pursuant to Security Council resolution 186 (1964) and subsequent Council resolutions, most recently resolution 2114 (2013).

2.       As at 15 December 2013, the strength of the military component stood at 857 for all ranks and the strength of the police component stood at 65 (see annex).

II.   Activities of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

 3.       UNFICYP aims first and foremost to prevent a recurrence of fighting and contribute to the maintenance of law and order and a return to normal conditions. Its mandate requires reconciling, as far as possible, security considerations and the maintenance of the military status quo while allowing Cypriots who live and work in the buffer zone to pursue civilian activities and enjoy full and productive lives. Such an approach, when successful, builds confidence between the communities and contributes to the overall United Nations effort in support of the peace process.

A.    Prevention of a recurrence of fighting and the maintenance of the military status quo

 4.       During the reporting period, UNFICYP continued to maintain the integrity and stability of the buffer zone. Despite minor military violations committed by the opposing forces, which resulted in occasional altercations with UNFICYP, relations between UNFICYP and the opposing forces remained good. Through regular patrolling and the mission’s observation, reporting and liaison infrastructure, UNFICYP managed to avert attempts by both opposing forces to effect low-level changes to the military status quo across the buffer zone. However, the
non-recognition by the opposing forces of the aide-memoire of 1989 and incidents that challenge UNFICYP authority in the buffer zone continue to be problematic. On a number of occasions, the opposing forces continued to question the United Nations delineation of the ceasefire lines and, consequently, the extent of the buffer zone in certain areas.

5.       Regarding the situation near the village of Avlona, intensive UNFICYP liaison resulted in the removal from the buffer zone in December by the Turkish Forces of their fence (see S/2013/392, para. 9), and of two cameras that had been installed in July.

6.       While no progress was made in the implementation of military-related confidence-building measures, neither of the opposing forces conducted any major military exercises during the reporting period. For the sixth consecutive year, the Turkish Forces and the National Guard cancelled their annual exercises, Toros and Nikiforos, respectively. Yet, in old town Nicosia, where the ceasefire lines are in close proximity to each other, instances of ill-discipline at the lowest tactical level provoked reactions from the other side. Further, previously reported military positions established by both opposing forces inside the buffer zone that violate the status quo remain in place. The Turkish Forces frequently overmanned the liaison post at Strovilia in violation of the military status quo. The United Nations continues to hold the Government of Turkey responsible for the status quo in Varosha.

7.       The two sides continued to withhold access for demining to the four known mined areas in the buffer zone, of which three are under the control of the National Guard and one under that of the Turkish Forces. There has been no progress in terms of fulfilling the Security Council call upon the parties to extend demining operations outside the buffer zone. In cooperation with the opposing forces, UNFICYP has begun reconnaissance and technical surveys of two areas where mines may have been displaced into the buffer zone through flooding.

B.    Restoration of normal conditions and humanitarian functions

 8.       In line with its mandate to contribute to a return to normal conditions, UNFICYP issued more than 860 permits for farming and other civilian activities in the buffer zone, and approved 15 of 19 proposals for new civilian projects received during the reporting period. UNFICYP continued to face challenges to its authority by contractors and individuals carrying out unauthorized activities, on occasion in a manner that increased tensions in the buffer zone, which adversely affected the security situation and required intensive liaison to resolve. On some occasions, UNFICYP personnel encountered aggressive behaviour, which was referred to legal process in more aggravated cases. To counter this trend, UNFICYP continued to encourage authorities and individuals to cooperate with the mission by providing relevant information on civilian projects in the buffer zone in a timely manner and according to established procedures.

9.       UNFICYP police continued to assist and facilitate a number of investigations conducted by the respective police services into criminal matters that had occurred within the buffer zone. This was particularly the case in the mixed village of Pyla, where UNFICYP is responsible for the conduct of law enforcement by the two sides. The university, which opened in Pyla in October 2012, remained unauthorized during the reporting period, given the continuing concerns over its potential impact on law and order in the village. UNFICYP engaged local authorities and community representatives in the village in order to address and resolve criminal matters.

10.     The start of the hunting season on 3 November led to a renewed presence of hunters in the buffer zone. On 4 November, UNFICYP issued a press statement reminding hunters that hunting in the buffer zone was not allowed and could run the risk of drawing fire from either of the opposing forces as hunters wearing camouflage outfits and carrying guns could easily be mistaken for soldiers. UNFICYP also conducted anti-hunting patrols and escorted Cyprus police game wardens into the buffer zone, who seized a number of firearms from hunters lacking valid permits. During an anti-hunting patrol in November, an armed hunter pointed a loaded weapon at an UNFICYP police officer before leaving the area; the incident was reported to the Cyprus police for investigation.

11. During the reporting period, UNFICYP intensified contacts with various stakeholders with a view to improving the situation in old town Nicosia where the buffer zone is at its most narrow. Together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the mission continued to work closely with the Nicosia Master Plan — a bicommunal mechanism established in 1979 to address urban issues in old town Nicosia — to identify projects which can benefit both communities. In September, UNFICYP facilitated a joint site visit by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot municipal architects, which included an inspection of buildings on the Green Line that are in danger of collapse and pose a safety hazard. In a separate initiative on 1 November, UNFICYP brought together for the first time the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot mayors of Nicosia and their respective council members for an informal social event at the Ledra Palace Hotel.

12.     Beyond the buffer zone, UNFICYP continued to address concerns of Greek Cypriots and Maronites residing in the north, including through weekly delivery of humanitarian assistance to 347 Greek Cypriots and 120 Maronites in the north, and support to the Greek Cypriot schools in the Karpas peninsula. UNFICYP also facilitated a post-mortem transfer of a Greek Cypriot for burial in the north. The two Greek Cypriot requests for return to the Karpas region (see S/2013/392, para. 22) still await a reply from the Turkish Cypriot authorities. For Turkish Cypriots residing in the south who requested assistance, UNFICYP conducted home visits and liaison with local authorities to ensure access to health and welfare support. As noted in previous reports, there were again no new developments regarding the establishment of a Turkish language school in Limassol. UNFICYP also assisted in addressing the legal and humanitarian issues surrounding the imprisonment and temporary detention of four Turkish Cypriots in the south through regular visits to the detention facilities where they were held. UNFICYP also attended four court hearings to enhance confidence in the judicial proceedings.

13.     With a view to fostering bicommunal cooperation and reconciliation, UNFICYP supported 51 civil society events, in cooperation with international and local partners, in which more than 2,000 individuals from both communities engaged in sporting, cultural, educational and other activities. It also supported regular meetings of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political party representatives under the auspices of the Embassy of Slovakia, including a joint visit by them to the monasteries Sourp Magar and Agios Panteleimon in the north in late November.

14.     In September, UNDP sponsored an off-island brainstorming exercise in Malta bringing together 60 prominent Cypriot civic, business and political leaders. The three-day event reached consensus on the need to create new opportunities for intercommunal business cooperation in order to demonstrate the benefits of a settlement. Practical examples included roaming agreements for island-wide mobile telephony and joint visits of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot business leaders to Turkey. Participants also agreed on the need for more structured public dialogues on the settlement process, which could support the formal negotiations.

15.     UNFICYP facilitated 42 religious events, involving more than 13,000 individuals, which were held in the buffer zone or required crossings to the other side. With UNFICYP support, both sides took important steps to facilitate the practice of religious worship. In recognition of his function, on 18 October the Grand Mufti of Cyprus was able to cross to the south for Friday prayers at Hala Sultan mosque for the first time. He was hosted and accompanied by the Archbishop of the Church of Cyprus. This followed the lifting of the ban on the Bishop of Karpas to cross to the north, which resulted in the Bishop’s visit to the Karpas area, accompanied by the Imam of the Hala Sultan mosque, on 16 October. Subsequently, on 30 November and 1 December, the Bishop of Karpas conducted services at the Apostolos Andreas monastery in the Karpas region, which were attended by more than 5,000 persons. Underpinning these developments, UNDP worked closely with the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage on the protection of cultural sites on both sides of the island, with significant progress made on the restoration of the Apostolos Andreas monastery, including through the two contribution agreements signed on 17 September with the Church of Cyprus and the Evkaf Administration, respectively.

16.     On 5 November, the Cyprus Football Association and the Turkish Cypriot Football Association signed a provisional agreement for football in Cyprus, endorsed by the Union of European Football Associations and the International Federation of Association Football. The arrangement aims to unify and facilitate the progress of football on the island based on trust, mutual respect and goodwill. Football clubs on both sides have supported the agreement.

17.     On 16 July, some 100 tons of oil leaked into the sea off the northeastern coast of the Karpas peninsula, when a pipeline connecting a tanker to a power station broke. To tackle the resultant 7-kilometre slick, the Turkish Cypriot side requested assistance, through UNFICYP, from the Greek Cypriot side, which immediately responded positively. After some liaison, UNFICYP facilitated the successful transfer of 34 oil absorbent booms, under contractual arrangement between the respective Chambers of Commerce.

18.     The Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters, facilitated by UNFICYP police, continued to meet, while the Joint Communications Room continued to provide a forum for enhanced cooperation between the sides through the exchange of information on criminal matters which have inter-communal elements. Good cooperation led to the opening of eight criminal investigations over the reporting period, three of which, relating to burglary, car theft and sexual assault, are currently under legal process.

19.     UNFICYP police continued to provide escorts for convoys with Turkish Cypriot civilians and humanitarian supplies in accordance with the leaders’ agreement of October 2010 that was reached upon the opening of the Limnitis/Yeşilırmak crossing. From July to November 2013, about 700,000 official crossings were recorded through the buffer zone. From May to November, goods worth nearly €400,000 crossed from the south to the north, while goods amounting to about €2.6 million moved in the opposite direction. Both sides continue to apply administrative procedures, which, at times, had the effect of discouraging intercommunal trade. No agreement has been reached on the opening of further crossing points.

20.     Occasional restrictions on local United Nations staff members seeking to undertake their duties in the north remained in place.


III.   Committee on Missing Persons

 21.     During the reporting period, the Committee on Missing Persons continued with the exhumation, identification and return of the remains of missing persons. As at 15 December 2013, the Committee’s bicommunal teams of archaeologists had exhumed the remains of 1,012 individuals on both sides of the island. To date, the remains of 475 individuals have been returned to their respective families, including 83 during the reporting period. The total number of missing persons identified in 2013 now stands at 137, making the year the most successful in the life of the Committee yet. In late November, following a June request by the Committee, the Turkish Forces authorized the excavation of one suspected burial site in a fenced military controlled area in the north.


IV.   Financial and administrative aspects

22.     The General Assembly, by its resolution 67/272, appropriated the amount of $55.6 million gross for the maintenance of UNFICYP for the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, inclusive of the voluntary contribution of one third of the net cost of the Force, equivalent to $18.7 million from the Government of Cyprus and the voluntary contribution of $6.5 million from the Government of Greece. I invite other countries and organizations to do likewise, with a view to reducing the portion of the cost of UNFICYP covered by assessed contributions.

23.     Should the Security Council decide to extend the mandate of UNFICYP for a further period of six months, as recommended in paragraph 33 below, the cost of maintaining the Force would be limited to the amount approved by the General Assembly.

24.     As at 6 December 2013, the total outstanding assessed contributions to the special account for UNFICYP for the period from 16 June 1993 to 6 December 2013 amounted to $15.9 million. The total outstanding assessed contributions for all peacekeeping operations as at the same date amounted to $2,509.6 million.

25.     Reimbursement of troop- and contingent-owned equipment costs has been made for the periods up to 31 August 2013 and 31 March 2013, respectively, owing to the delay in the receipt of assessed contributions.

V.   Observations

 26.     During the reporting period, the situation along the ceasefire lines remained mostly calm and stable, including as a result of UNFICYP regular patrolling and liaison with the opposing forces. In view of this positive state of affairs, I encourage both opposing forces to establish dedicated teams to actively engage with UNFICYP on military confidence-building measures. One such measure could include formal acceptance by both sides of the aide-memoire of 1989, which would bring to an end contestation of the United Nations delineation of the ceasefire lines. Another measure could be to facilitate, without delay, access to all remaining mined areas in and outside the buffer zone, in line with Security Council resolution 2114 (2013).

27.     The Nicosia old town within the Venetian walls, a highly militarized area where the buffer zone is at its most narrow, faces a growing number of challenges, including for UNFICYP patrolling. I call on both sides, in cooperation with UNFICYP, UNDP, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot municipalities as well as the Nicosia Master Plan, to adopt a holistic approach to the urban infrastructure of the old town through joint projects that could transform the wider area and promote confidence and trust. Restoration of derelict buildings could also be addressed within this context.

28.     To the extent that security and stability are not negatively affected, UNFICYP sought to approve civilian activities in the buffer zone. Such activities, however, will promote trust between the communities only if they are undertaken in accordance with UNFICYP procedures. I thus call upon the respective authorities to act decisively towards all who engage in unauthorized activities, thus showing respect for UNFICYP authority in the buffer zone and support for the mission’s ability to implement its mandate.

29.     The continued low number of people crossing and trading across the buffer zone is regrettable. I still believe that the development of economic, social, cultural, sporting or similar ties and contacts will have a positive impact on efforts to resume negotiations and the broader climate. Such contacts promote trust between the communities and help to address the Turkish Cypriots’ concerns of isolation. In this regard, I am encouraged by the interreligious dialogue between Greek Orthodox and Muslim leaders as well as the recent provisional agreement between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot football associations. I once again call upon both community leaders to exert efforts towards creating a climate conducive to the widening and deepening of such contacts. Greater economic and social parity between the sides will make an eventual reunification easier and more likely. In the context of an internationally sanctioned peace process, efforts in the opposite direction can only be counterproductive.

30.     With regard to natural resources around Cyprus, it is important to ensure that any new-found wealth will benefit both communities. I remain of the view that such developments constitute a strong incentive for all parties to find a durable solution to the Cyprus problem and should engender deeper cooperation for the benefit of all stakeholders in the region.

31.     The United Nations remains committed to supporting the critical humanitarian work being done on behalf of the families of victims through the Committee on Missing Persons. While I welcome the unprecedented number of identifications carried out by the Committee this year, I also note that up to 50 years after their disappearance, half of all missing persons have yet to be located and 75 per cent have yet to be identified. It is critical that the work of the Committee suffer no further delays. In this regard, while the recent granting of access to a Turkish military area in the north is welcome, the aforementioned statistics and the advancing age of relatives of missing persons highlight the need to expedite the process. I therefore reiterate the need for increased cooperation with the Committee.

32.     Regrettably, restrictions continue on the movement of locally employed United Nations personnel. Freedom of movement for all United Nations personnel is a matter of principle for the Organization and an operational requirement for UNFICYP. I call upon the Turkish Cypriot authorities to respect that principle.

33.     UNFICYP continues to play a crucial role on the island by exercising authority in the buffer zone and contributing to keeping the calm and resolving various issues that affect the everyday lives of individuals in both communities. However, its ability to play this role depends by and large on the commitment of the sides to refrain from challenging the authority and legitimacy of UNFICYP in the buffer zone. In the hope that both sides will continue to cooperate with UNFICYP in good faith, I recommend that the mandate of the mission be extended for a period of six months, until 31 July 2014.

34.     UNFICYP continues to maintain close collaboration with my mission of good offices, led by my Special Adviser, and other United Nations actors on the island. In line with relevant Security Council resolutions, most recently resolution 2114 (2013), the mission remains engaged in contingency planning in relation to the settlement. The planning will continue to be guided by developments in the negotiations and views of the parties on the possible role of the United Nations in this respect.

35.     At the same time, I shall continually keep the operations of UNFICYP under close review, taking into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties, and shall revert to the Council with recommendations, as appropriate, for further adjustments to the UNFICYP mandate, force levels and concept of operations as soon as warranted.

36.     In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to my Special Representative and Chief of Mission, Lisa M. Buttenheim, to the Force Commander, Major General Chao Liu, and to the men and women serving in UNFICYP for the efficiency and commitment with which they have discharged the responsibilities entrusted to them by the Security Council. In view of the upcoming fiftieth year of the mission in March 2014, I take this opportunity to also express my gratitude to the 32 countries that have contributed since 1964 either troops or police or both to UNFICYP, and I pay a tribute to the 184 peacekeepers who lost their lives over that period in support of peace in Cyprus. I trust that this fiftieth anniversary will further the impetus towards an early resolution of the conflict and the reunification of the island.


Annex

 

Countries providing military and police personnel

to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (as at 15 December 2013)

 

 

Country

Military personnel

 

 

Argentina

266

Austria

4

Brazil

1

Canada

1

Chile

14

China

2

Croatia

2

Hungary

77

Paraguay

13

Serbia

46

Slovakia

157

Ukraine

2

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

272

      Total

857

 

 

Country

United Nations police

 

 

Australia

14

Bosnia and Herzegovina

7

Croatia

4

India

8

Ireland

12

Italy

4

Lithuania

2

Montenegro

3

Serbia

2

Slovakia

2

Ukraine

7

      Total

65

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Written statement by the President of the Republic, 15 January 2014

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General Assembly Seveth Session of the OWG on SDGs

Sustainable cities and human settlements; Sustainable transport; Climate change and disaster risk reduction; Sustainable consumption and production, including chemicals and waste

6-10 January, 2014

New York

Mr. Co-chairs,

I deliver this statement on behalf of Cyprus-Singapore and UAE.

Half of the world’s population lives in cities therefore a successful transformational sustainable change of our cities and towns is in fact half way towards universal achievement of sustainable development and poverty eradication. [Read more…]