UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and head of UNFICYP Elizabeth Spehar had a meeting on Wednesday with Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides. CNA has learned that Christodoulides and Spehar discussed about the Secretary General`s report about the renewal of UNFICYP mandate, which ends on July 31, 2018.

Spehar also had a meeting on Tuesday with Democratic Rally (DISY) President Averof Neophytou and AKEL General Secretary Andros Kyprianou. UNFICYP spokesperson Aleem Siddique has told the Cyprus News Agency that Spehar is currently holding meetings on both sides of the island in listening mode. Responding to a question he said that she has no scheduled meetings for the time being with the two leaders, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

CNA has learned that it is scheduled for Spehar to brief the UN Security Council on July 17. Cyprus` Permanent Representative to the UN Kornelios Korneliou has said that a report of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres about his good offices mission in Cyprus is expected to be handed over to UN Security Council members on Thursday.

In its resolution adopted on January 30, 2018, the UN Security Council expressed its full support to UNFICYP and decided to extend its mandate for a further period ending 31 July 2018. It also requested  the Secretary General to submit a report on progress towards a settlement by 15 June 2018, and on implementation of this resolution by 10 July 2018 and to keep the Security Council updated on events as necessary.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

The United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), comprising military and civilian personnel from various contributing countries, arrived in Cyprus in March 1964 after intercommunal fighting broke out. The mandate of the force is renewed every six months by the Security Council.