Press Releases

Statement by the Permanent Representative of Cyprus, Amb. Andreas D. Mavroyiannis 

The UN Security Council yesterday, 29.1.2021 adopted Resolution 2561 on Cyprus, renewing the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for a period of six months, until the end of July 2021.

Following the adoption, the Permanent Representative of Cyprus, Ambassador Andreas D. Mavroyiannis, made a statement to the press, as follows:

“The Security Council has just adopted resolution 2561 on Cyprus. I had earlier given the consent of the Republic of Cyprus for the renewal of the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, with the same mandate and the same strength.

I would like to thank all members of the Security Council for the work done and for the adoption of this resolution. I would like also to thank the Secretary-General, the Secretariat, and all troop contributing countries for this seamless renewal of the mandate of the Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, for a period of six months, until the end of July 2021.

The resolution just adopted, is also very important for reasons that have to do with the current situation in Cyprus and the efforts for the resumption of the negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. The resolution reconfirms and reaffirms very strongly the basis of the sought-after solution of the Cyprus problem, as a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality as described by Security Council Resolutions. It also calls to continue building on the existing body of work and expresses its encouragement to the Secretary-General, in order to convene in the coming weeks, what the UN calls a “5+1” meeting in order to put the process back on track.

The resolution is also very important because it reaffirms the Presidential statement of last October on the new faits accomplis created by the occupying power in the fenced area of Varosha, and calls for the reversal of those new faits accomplis and for the respect of the status of Varosha and of the mandate of the peacekeeping force in that area.

And then, I would just mention only one more element which has to do with the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean; the Security Council is calling not only to avoid any unilateral action which put in jeopardy the peace in the Eastern Mediterranean and a clear reference to the illegal drilling by Turkey, in areas that very clearly belong to the maritime areas of the Republic of Cyprus. Also, the resolution calls for the settlement of any disputes that have to do with maritime areas in the Eastern Mediterranean, through international law and a very direct reference that way to the need of all states to abide by international law and somehow, alluding to all judicial means of settlement of international disputes.”

The provisional document can be seen here: S/RES/2561 (2021)

30/1/2021

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