The UN Security Council approved here today a resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP mandate by 13 votes in favour and two abstentions (Pakistan and Azerbaijan).

The mandate of the UN peace keeping force in Cyprus has been extended for a further period ending 31 January 2013.

Britain finally gave its consent to change a controversial phrase in the resolution referring to UNFICYP’s mandate, removing the word “looking forward” to a review of UNFICYP and replacing it with the phrase “including a review of UNFICYP when appropriate”, which has been accepted by Cyprus.

The Security Council welcomes “the intention of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping operations under close review to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, including a review of UNFICYP when appropriate, and noting the importance of contingency planning in relation to the settlement, including recommendations as appropriate for further adjustments to UNFICYP’s mandate, force levels and other resources and concept of operations, taking into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties,” the approved text reads.

In his resolution, the Security Council echoes the Secretary-General’s firm belief that the responsibility for finding a solution lies first and foremost with the Cypriots themselves, and reaffirming the primary role of the United Nations in assisting the parties to bring the Cyprus conflict and division of the island to a comprehensive and durable settlement.

Moreover it welcomes the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the leaders’ joint statements including those of 23 May and 1 July 2008, and recalls the importance attached by the international community to all parties engaging fully, flexibly and constructively in the negotiations, and noting that the move towards a more intensive phase of negotiations has not yet resulted in an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions, encouraging the sides to proceed with the substantive negotiations on the core issues, and stressing that the status quo is unsustainable.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.