United Nations Security Council Resolution 831

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.

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar discussed the issue of Cyprus on Feb. 1 with the U.N. mission chief appointed to facilitate the solution of the decades-old dispute on the divided island.

Turkey on Jan. 30 voiced support for the stance taken by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) against the U.N.'s decision to extend the mandate of a peacekeeping mission on the island.

Ankara also called on the global body to stop relying on "a tested and exhausted process" that has failed to resolve the Cyprus dispute for "more than 50 years."

The consent of the Turkish Cypriots was not sought while the UN Security Council adopted extension of the mandate of the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a period of six months, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 18.         

Nicosia is keeping an eye on New York ahead of a UNFICYP vote next week, as the US and UK are mulling over the precise content in a draft resolution for the renewal of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

The Cypriot Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed its satisfaction over the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) approval of a resolution for the extension of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another 6 months.