Two separate reports will be issued on Cyprus at the United Nations, one on the renewal of UNFICYP`s mandate and the second on the Secretary General`s good offices mission.

The report on the UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) will be issued before the date set out in the last UN resolution, which is the 10th January.

The report on the good offices mission does not have a deadline but it is estimated that it will be presented to the members of the Council before the draft resolution on the renewal of UNFICYP’s mandate.

According to diplomatic sources, UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide had asked for a separate report on the good offices mission.

Regarding the report on UNFICYP, diplomatic sources talked about assurances that it will not contain any surprises.

The Security Council will be briefed by Eide around 26-27 January.

In Resolution 2234 on UNFICYP dated 29 July, the Security Council encourages the sides to grasp the current opportunity with determination to secure a comprehensive settlement and calls upon the two leaders to put their efforts behind further work on reaching convergences on the core issues.

The UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), one of the longest serving UN peace-keeping forces, arrived on the island in March 1964 when intercommunal strife broke out. Since then, its mandate has been modified to meet the circumstances on the ground, in particular after the 1974 Turkish invasion, which resulted into the division of the country. Several countries contribute to UNFICYP personnel, which numbers around 1,000. The mandate of the force is renewed every six months.