United Nations Security Council Resolution 1986

UN Security Council
Resolution 1986

Buffer zone in Cyprus

Date

13 June 2011

Meeting no.

6,554

Code

S/RES/1986 (Document)

Subject

The situation in Cyprus

Voting summary

15 voted for
None voted against
None abstained

Result

Adopted

Security Council composition

Permanent members

Non-permanent members

← 1985

Lists of resolutions

1987 →

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1986, adopted unanimously on June 13, 2011, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Cyprus, particularly resolutions 1251 (1999) and 1953 (2010), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a further six months until December 15, 2011, calling for an intensification of negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders.^[1]

Resolution

Observations

The Security Council noted that the Cypriot government had agreed to the continued presence of UNFICYP on the island. A solution to the conflict was down to the Cypriots themselves, and there was a unique opportunity to achieve a lasting settlement. There was progress in the peace talks though the Council remained concerned that progress was slow and at the "unacceptability" of the status quo.^[2] It welcomed the implementation of confidence-building measures by both Cyprus and Northern Cyprus and encouraged further crossing points to be opened along the Green Line.

The Council remained convinced that a durable settlement of the Cyprus dispute would be beneficial for all Cypriots and the situation in the buffer zone would improve if both sides accepted the 1989 aide-mémoire used by the United Nations. It was convinced that undermining the credibility of the United Nations was detrimental to the peace process. Furthermore, the Council welcomed progress in demining activities, the efforts of the Committee on Missing Persons, and agreed that the active participation of civil society groups and bi-communal contacts was essential to the political process. There was a need to focus public messages on the "way ahead".^[3]

Acts

The resolution welcomed the progress of negotiations and the prospect of progress in the near future towards a settlement. In this regard, it called on the two Cypriot leaders to intensify negotiations, improve their atmosphere, and increase the participation of civil society.^[4] Furthermore, both sides were called upon to participate in consultations on the demarcation of the buffer zone and the 1989 aide-mémoire.

The Turkish Cypriot side was urged to restore the military status quo in Strovilia that existed there before June 30, 2000. It also called for access for deminers. Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was requested to submit a report by December 1, 2011 on the implementation of the current resolution.^[4]