UN extends peacekeeping force’s mandate in Cyprus

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another six months, until Jan. 31, 2014.

During the July 30 session of the Council, the mission period and latest situation of the UNFICYP, which has been serving on the island since 1964, were covered. The Council extended the mandate of the UNFICYP until Jan. 31, 2014 by a vote of 13 to 0, with two members, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, abstaining.

There are some of 860 troops and 65 police officers serving under the UNFICYP, which is one of the longest-running U.N peacekeeping missions in the world.

The U.N. Security Council also reiterated its call on the leadership of both Turkish and Greek Cyprus to accelerate the pace of talks aimed at reunifying the divided island nation.

The Council also wrapped up its scheduled work for July with the unanimous extension of United Nations peacekeeping operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Darfur.