Nicosia scrambles to keep Cyprus problem on UN agenda

Greek Cypriots want UN reports on the Cyprus problem to continue ever six months, but sources say the Security Council is leaning towards an annual extension at least for the peacekeeping force mandate following "no meaningful progress" on the issue.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, a UNSC resolution on the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate is expected to be approved on January 30, as it has been done every six months for half a century, but this time the period will be for 12 months.

CNA cited a source that said the United Kingdom, one of Cyprus' three guarantor powers and the penholder on the issue, had suggested the idea of extending UNFICYP for 12 instead of six months.

Nicosia reportedly supports the change provided that the UN Secretary General's reports on Cyprus "will continue to come out normally every six months, so that the Cyprus issue can be...