UNITED NATIONS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for half a year.
In a unanimous approval on Resolution 2430, the expiration date of the mandate of UNFICYP was extended from July 31, 2018 to Jan. 31, 2019.
The text also requests the secretary-general to increase the number of women in UNFICYP as well as to ensure the meaningful participation of women in all aspects of operations.
It calls on the two Cypriot communities, Turkish and Greek, to continue to engage in consultations with UNFICYP on the demarcation of the buffer zone and implement the UN proposed agreement with a view to reaching early agreement on outstanding issues.
It urges 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.
In 1963, constitutional crises in Cyprus resulted in the outbreak of intercommunal violence. After all attempts to restore peace failed, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 186 (1964) that recommended the establishment of UNFICYP.
One of the longest-running UN peacekeeping missions, UNFICYP was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and bring about a return to normal conditions.
The mission's responsibilities expanded in 1974, following a coup d'etat by elements favouring union with Greece and a subsequent military intervention by Turkey, whose troops established control over the northern part of the island.
Since a de facto ceasefire in August 1974, UNFICYP has supervised the ceasefire lines, provided humanitarian assistance, and maintained a buffer zone between the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces in the north and the Greek Cypriot forces in the south.