Cyprus’ Foreign Minister has taken all necessary action in order to ensure that a UN Security Council resolution, extending the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force on the island (UNFICYP), contains no negative points, Government Spokesman Kyriacos Koushos said on Wednesday.
Replying to journalists’ questions, at the Presidential Palace, about the resolution which is expected to get Security Council approval on January 30, Koushos said that Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides acted personally, as did other Foreign Ministry officials, and took all necessary steps to ensure that the resolution contains no negative points. “We hope that the actions undertaken will bring about the right result” the Spokesman added.
“We hope that the actions undertaken will bring about the right result.”
In reply to another question, Koushos said that the issue of certain references, which were included in the draft resolution, has been dealt with and the outcome expected, following the Foreign Minister’s actions, is a positive one.
The Spokesman also said that Jane Holl Lute, the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser, is expected to speak on the phone with the President of Cyprus at some point after Wednesday afternoon or tomorrow, the latest.
On Tuesday, Lute had a telephone conversation with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci.
“On Tuesday, Lute had a telephone conversation with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci.”
Asked if there is any progress in relation to EU sanctions against Turkey, due to Ankara’s activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, Koushos said yes and pointed to the position expressed by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, following the Foreign Affairs Council. There was a reference to various measures and certain actions were taken, Koushos said, and expressed his conviction that things are moving in a positive direction.
President to hold telephone conversation with Lute
President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades is expected to speak on the phone with Jane Holl Lute, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, within the next 48 hours.
The exchange may take place on Wednesday or Thursday, the latest, and is taking place at the initiative of Lute.
“President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades is expected to speak on the phone with Jane Holl Lute within the next 48 hours.”
It is noted that the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser also spoke Tuesday on the phone with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, at her initiative. According to reports from the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, Akinci and Lute reviewed briefly a report by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council, on the renewal of the mandate of UN peacekeeping in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and the relevant resolution.
UN Security Council to vote on UNFICYP resolution on January 30
The silence procedure initiated at the UN Security Council for the adoption of a draft resolution, concerning the extension of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), ends on Wednesday morning (New York time). If there is no objection in between by any member of the Security Council, the blueprint will be finalized and will be put to a vote during an open session on January 30.
Deliberations among Security Council members concluded on Monday afternoon, bringing a week of diplomatic maneuvers to an end. Intense diplomatic efforts took place in Nicosia, at the UN headquarters in New York and in the capitals of the five permanent members.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides spoke on the phone with his British counterpart, Dominic Raab, discussing the resolution at length.
“Intense diplomatic efforts took place in Nicosia, at the UN headquarters in New York and in the capitals of the five permanent members.”
A diplomatic source in New York said that after intense political and diplomatic interventions, the resolution has been significantly improved, but it is not being made public until the silence procedure’s extension is over. China asked for the extension for technical reasons.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in the summer of 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
