Set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities on the island and bring about a return to normal conditions, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is one of the longest-running UN peacekeeping missions.

Fifty years have passed since the decision was taken unanimously by the UN Security Council on March 4, 1964, for the establishment of UNFICYP. Its presence on the island is described as necessary and indispensable by Cypriot political leaders and diplomats, who have one way or another been engaged with the UN force.

 

UN Security Council resolution 186, inter alia, recommended the creation, with the consent of the Government of Cyprus, of a United Nations Peace keeping Force in Cyprus.

It said that “the composition and size of the Force shall be established by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Governments of Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Commander of the Force shall be appointed by the Secretary-General and report to him. The Secretary-General, who shall keep the Governments providing the Force fully informed, shall report periodically to the Security Council on its operation.”

Moreover the Council recommended that the function of the Force should be, in the interest of preserving international peace and security, to use its best efforts to prevent a recurrence of fighting and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions and that the stationing of the Force shall be for a period of three months.
After the 1974 Turkish invasion, the Security Council adopted a number of resolutions expanding UNFICYP’s mandate. The changes included supervising the de facto ceasefire that came into effect on 16 August 1974, and maintaining a buffer zone between the lines of the Cyprus National Guard and the occupation forces.
However fifty years on and UNFICYP’s presence on the island is as indispensable as ever. Its mandate is renewed every six months by the Security Council.

CNA has invited some current and past politicians and diplomats, who have been involved by virtue of their capacities with the UN, to air their views on UNFICYP, its contribution to Cyprus, its achievements and shortcomings. Here is what they had to say.

 

The President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has pointed out that the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus contributes, since the establishment of the Republic, to efforts towards a political settlement and towards maintaining and restoring order, while at the same time it provides humanitarian aid to the population affected by the consequences of the Turkish invasion.

“We are grateful to the United Nations for the presence and the contribution of peacekeepers to our country,” Anastasiades has told CNA, adding that “UNFICYP’s presence here confirms the substantial assistance the United Nations provides to Cyprus and its people.”

“We thank the countries which have contributed troops to UNFICYP and those whose nationals have served here as UN representatives,” he said, and paid tribute in particular to the 178 peacekeepers, who have lost their lives serving in Cyprus.

“Cyprus, since its independence, has benefited substantially from other UN activities, such as the UN Development Programme (UNOPS and later UNDP), who have helped the young Republic of Cyprus in is first steps, and led the country towards economic and social development by providing technical assistance and implementing development programmes of the Organization.”

“I would like to salute the United Nations and their Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for everything they have given to our country,” said President Anastasiades, expressing the belief that their useful contribution will continue with dedication, until the vindication of the struggle of the people of Cyprus and the reunification of the country.

Former President, the late Glafcos Clerides, in the second volume of his book “My Deposition” elaborates on the events that led to the adoption of resolution 186, since he participated to the delegation that represented Cyprus to the UN, headed by the then Foreign Minister Spyros Kyprianou.

Clerides notes in his book “the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, after exchanging views with us, stated that they would support the draft resolution and France would do the same thing. The only way for the resolution not to be adopted was if Britain, the US or China exercised a veto. Since the draft resolution provided that the composition and the command of the force would be decided by the Secretary General, they felt that the risk of including forces from eastern block in it had been overcome. The United Nations Secretariat had given indications that the Secretary General’s thoughts on the composition of the force focused on neutral countries and countries of the Commonwealth. Finally, on March 4, 1964, the first of a long series of draft resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly was adopted by the Security Council regarding the new crisis of the Cyprus problem.”
Former President of the Republic Demetris Christofias told CNA that the involvement of the United Nations, and especially of the Security Council in the Cypriot crisis, has rescued Cyprus over the years and Cypriots should be grateful to the United Nations.
He said the overall assessment of the presence of UNFICYP should be positive. “We as Cypriots always believe that others, not us, have more responsibilities for keeping peace in our country. The fact that foreign imperialist interventions are the main cause of the Cyprus crisis does not relieve us of our responsibilities,” he noted, adding that “we have to point out that the United Nations and their decisions are the result of the balance of power in the world at the time they are taken, and this has been the case since the UN was established.” This, Christofias believes, has both a positive and a negative fallout.
Former President of the Republic George Vassiliou told CNA that “we all have to express our gratitude to UNFICYP for their tremendous effort and contribution to Cyprus.”

“For 50 years thousands of soldiers, police officers and administrative staff from many United Nations member countries served in Cyprus to contribute to peacekeeping, policing the Green Line and offer humanitarian services to both communities wherever possible,” he said, recalling that during this period 178 individuals, members of UNFICYP, died serving Cyprus.
Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides told CNA that the presence of the peacekeeping force is necessary until a settlement of the Cyprus problem is reached and until peace prevails on the island.

He noted that various incidents that have occurred since 1974 and concern Turkish violations of the status quo may not have been prevented or restored by UNFICYP intervention, but the fact remains that in many cases, peacekeepers showed self-sacrifice while performing their duties.

“We are grateful to the Secretary General and the UN member states from which UNFICYP staff comes, as well as to the UN members which contribute financially to maintain the peacekeeping force. We pay tribute to the peacekeepers, who lost their lives while fulfilling their duties in Cyprus,” he told CNA.

In relation to the wider role of the United Nations in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, Kasoulides said that relevant Security Council resolutions “constitute the shield and the spear of the Republic to avert secessionist policies of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime and to reach a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.” He stressed that the solution should be in accordance with Security Council resolutions, noting that the official position of the Cypriot government on this issue has not changed.
Former House President Vassos Lyssarides told CNA that the acceptance of the presence of UN peacekeepers in Cyprus was the result of British policy and the involvement of Turkey in the tripartite conference in London in 1955, aiming at using the Turkish Cypriot community on the island to prevent the implementation of the right to self-determination of the people of Cyprus.
Lyssarides said that “there were several cases where the stance of those in charge of UNFICYP did not meet the force’s terms of reference,” adding that there were events where the force did not act appropriately, recalling as the most recent example the incident in Strovilia village. In June 2000 Turkish forces moved 300 metres inside Strovilia, a strip of land sandwiched between the eastern-most fringes of Dhekelia British Base and the occupied areas. Since then several UN resolutions have called for the restoration of the military status quo which existed prior to 30 June 2000. The Turkish military has yet to comply with such calls.
Lyssarides stressed however that this does not mean that under the circumstances it would be desirable for UNFICYP to withdraw from the island.

He also recalled that on one occasion when he was Acting President of the Republic there was an intention on the part of the peacekeeping force to construct a military post at a site between the National Guard post and the government-controlled territories without prior consultation with the Cypriot government.

“I contacted UNFICYP officials and informed them that I had ordered its demolition, explaining the reasons for my decision. Their response was positive and they decided to demolish the post by themselves,” he said.

Former Foreign Minister George Iacovou said that “peace keeping has had a great contribution in Cyprus, within the framework of its terms of reference.”

“UNFICYP was invited to address a chaotic situation created by the invasion of Turkey with very limited powers and capabilities. Considering the contribution of UNFICYP in line with its mandate and its resources and capabilities, I think it has done its work efficiently,” he said.

The former Foreign Minister remembers that he had direct cooperation with UNFICYP on a daily basis on issues related to the enclaved living in the Maronite villages in Kerynia district and in Karpasia peninsular, when he served as Director of the Office for Displaced Persons.
“I was impressed by the dedication of the staff in supplying all kinds of humanitarian assistance to the enclaved,” he said.
Former Foreign Minister Nicos Rolandis has told CNA that “undoubtedly Cyprus has had civil and moral support from the United Nations and the presence of the peacekeeping force has, on many occasions, prevented negative developments.”.

 

He noted that “we always expect much more from the United Nations than what they can actually provide,” expressing the view that the United Nations lack the necessary power to be able to implement justice.

Rolandis recalled events which preceded the adoption of UN resolution 430 of 1978 on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate, noting that several members of the Security Council had then argued that 14 years were a long time for a peacekeeping force to remain on the island. Finally after 20 hours of discussions, the resolution was adopted at 5 am New York time on June 16, 1978, and a new UNFICYP mandate began.
Former Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said that “the fact that UNFICYP completes 50 years of presence in Cyprus demonstrates that the purpose for which it was deployed on the island, namely the consolidation of peace, normality and legal order, has not been fulfilled.”

He emphasized, however, that it should not be concluded that UNFICY is responsible for the failure to resolve the Cyprus problem all these years. “Its contribution has been very important in maintaining peace in Cyprus for many decades. Its biggest contribution is that its presence, even when the number of its members decreased dramatically, played an important role in preventing incidents from either side of the Green Line,” he said.

According to Papapetrou, “UNFICYP presented significant weaknesses over the years, particularly with regard to its effectiveness to impose its positions”, with Strovilia being a prime example, as he noted.
Papapetrou recalled that as a 16-year-old student he saw in January 1964, British tanks bearing UN flags entering Nicosia to stop clashes between the two communities and avert bloodshed. “I could not imagine then that 50 years later UNFICYP would still be in Cyprus,” he said.
Former Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations and now negotiator of the Greek Cypriot side in talks aiming to solve the Cyprus problem Andreas Mavrogiannis described UNFICYP’s contribution invaluable.

“Nobody can say what would have happened in the absence of UNFICYP. The decision of the Cyprus Republic to seek early in 1964 the intervention of the Security Council was a wise one and led to the adoption of resolution 186 in March 1964, something which was crucial for the Republic and the principle of legality. The decision for the deployment of the force recognised the security problems created by the intercommunal clashes,” he said.

Mavroyiannis noted that even though conditions today do not resemble those of 1964, the presence of UNFICYP is still necessary, until a viable settlement of the Cyprus problem is reached.

Andreas Iacovides, who as a young diplomat was among the members of the delegations that represented Cyprus at the UN during discussions on resolution 186, said that the adoption of the resolution was a milestone and affected significantly the way the Cyprus problem evolved.

“I`m probably the only one alive among those who participated in the process on the part of Cyprus and played an active role in drafting and outlining Cyprus’ positions at the Security Council during the crucial period February – March 1964 under the supervision and guidance of the prominent figures of Glafcos Clerides, Spyros Kyprianou (who was then Foreign Minister) and Zenon Rossidis (who was then Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN)”, he recalls.

“We experienced some dramatic moments. Negotiations were difficult. Cyprus was then a newly established Republic but our positions had an impact at the UN,” Iacovides who later on served as Permanent Representative to the UN told CNA.

During 1960-63 there was no Cyprus problem, he noted and explained that Cypriot diplomats engaged in other global issues, on the basis of UN principles.

“Therefore when we were in need of protection, others responded,” he said, adding that “we always had to think before acting on any issue under discussion and see how our position could affect the position of other players with regard to Cyprus.”

Former Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations Sotos Zackheos told CNA that the effectiveness of UNFICYP may be questioned by some people, but without the UN force there would have been increased risk of an outbreak of hostilities in Cyprus and an advancement of Turkish troops within the buffer zone.

He noted that the UN peacekeeping force will have a role to play in the period immediately after the solution of the Cyprus problem, particularly as regards the implementation of the provisions relating to the return of refugees to the occupied areas.

Zackheos said that during his tenure in Geneva and New York he became aware of the enormous task UN personnel working for humanitarian and other agencies had to respond to. “The UN Secretariat on many occasions backtracked due to pressure from powerful countries instead of defending the UN Charter principles,” he noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Past efforts to reunify the island have so far failed. A new round of talks resumed in February, following an agreement on a joint declaration between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.