Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou expressed today the government’s satisfaction over the UN Security Council resolution, renewing the mandate of the UN’s peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months.

Stephanou said that the resolution is acknowledging the need to continue the presence of UNFICYP in Cyprus, while the current situation is ongoing.

He added that the resolution also takes into account the UN’s facilitating role in reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, and notes that the main responsibility for the process lies with the Cypriot people.

The resolution clearly acknowledges the basis for a Cyprus solution, as well as all relevant UN resolutions, Stephanou said, noting the special reference to Security Council resolution 1251 of 1999, which provides a full account of this kind of solution.
The Government Spokesman explained that this solution provides for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation, with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship, with political equality, as described in the relevant UN resolutions, guaranteeing the country’s territorial integrity and independence.

Such a solution prohibits the secession of part of the country or the union with another country, he said.

Stephanou reiterated the will of President Christofias to continue working for a mutually accepted compromise the soonest possible, by maintaining a resolute stance on principles and by showing the necessary display of realism.

He went on by saying that the solution will be based on the relevant UN resolutions, the principles of international and European law and the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979 between the two communities.

Commenting on a reference in the report, on slow progress in the negotiations, Stephanou said that it has been said many times that the pace could have been much faster, if the Turkish Cypriot side was cooperating with the Greek Cypriot side and was submitting positions that are within the framework of the agreed basis of the negotiations. This basis is the bi-zonal bi-communal federation, the Government Spokesman noted.

Our goal is the solution of the Cyprus problem, Stephanou said, adding that the President of the Republic is working towards this aim.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.