The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the adoption by the Security Council of the Resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for another 12 months, namely until 31 January 2024. The Council will continue to be informed every six months on both the Good Offices and the Peacekeeping Force, including through the relevant Reports of the UN Secretary General.
It is recalled that this Resolution, together with Resolution 186/1964, constitute the institutional guide for UNFICYP's presence in Cyprus, both of which refer to the legally binding obligations of the parties involved in relation to the Cyprus problem.
Specifically, the Resolution reaffirms the agreed basis for a solution to the Cyprus problem, which is none other than a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant resolutions of the Organization. It underlines the provisions of Resolution 1251, which refers to a State of Cyprus with one sovereignty, one nationality and one international personality.
The references to the issue of the enclave of Varosha, where the Security Council calls on Turkey to reverse its illegal actions and respect Resolutions 550 and 789 as well as the presidential statements of the Security Council when the Famagusta issue was the subject of special sessions of the House, are also extremely important provisions. The resolution records the Security Council's disappointment at Turkey's failure to comply with its previous calls in this regard, and warns that any further unilateral action within the enclave will provoke a Security Council response.
The resolution reiterates the Security Council's strong support for the Secretary-General's efforts to reinvigorate the talks process and includes reinforced references to the need to reach agreement on the appointment of a United NationsEnvoy with a mandate to assist the effort to resume negotiations.
References to the issue of violations in the Eastern Mediterranean are maintained and it is stressed that disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with applicable international law. It also calls for avoiding actions that could harm efforts for a solution, which is a strong message to Turkey.
The resolution also includes references to the need to promote confidence-building measures and the importance of involving women, youth and civil society in general in the peace process, to further strengthen economic cooperation and to end political obstacles that delay or hinder progress on important initiatives such as education. In this regard, specific reference is made to the "Imagine" programme, which is indicative of the decision of the Turkish Cypriot side to suspend its participation in the programme.
The Security Council calls for the restoration of the status quo in Strovilia and highlights Turkey's responsibility for this violation. Important references are also maintained to the issue of the missing persons and the need to accelerate efforts, especially access to archives to assist the work of the Committee of Inquiry on Missing Persons.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased and thanks the concerned countries members of the Security Council for the effectiveness of the diplomatic process between us in recent weeks, which resulted in the smooth adoption of the Resolution.
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