Cyprus |
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Prepared by the United Nations Department of Public Information
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MISSION PROFILE
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| UNFICYP |
| Established by the Security Council on 4 March 1964 through resolution 186(1964) to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions. After the hostilities of 1974, UNFICYP's responsibilities were expanded. Following a de facto ceasefire, which came into effect on 16 August 1974, UNFICYP has supervised the ceasefire and maintained a buffer zone between the lines of the Cyprus National Guard and of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces. In the absence of a political settlement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP continues its presence on the island. The Security Council most recently extended the mandate of the Force until 30 June 1999 by resolution 1217(1998), adopted on 22 December 1998. |
| SPECIAL ADVISER OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CYPRUS Diego Cordovez (Ecuador) |
| DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND CHIEF OF THE UN OPERATION IN CYPRUS Dame Ann Hercus (New Zealand) |
| FORCE COMMANDER Major-General Evergisto Arturo de Vergara (Argentina) |
| STRENGTH As of 30 November1998: Mission total of 1,306 uniformed personnel all ranks; consisting of 1,273 troops and 33 civilian police monitors; supported by some 330 international and local civilian staff | CONTRIBUTORS OF MILITARY AND POLICE PERSONNEL As of 30 November 1998: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom |
| FINANCIAL ASPECTS Method of mission financing: Assessments in respect of a Special Account The General Assembly, by adopting resolution 52/241 on 26 June 1998, decided to appropriate $45,276,160 (gross) (43,536,860 (net) for the maintenance of the Force during the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999. (See also ( Press Release GA/9425) issued 26 June 1998. Expenditures for UNFICYP amounted to $48,000,800 gross ($45,877,800 net) for the period 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998 (A/52/775/Add.1); decreasing from $44,957,700 gross ($42,972,300 net) for the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997 (A/52/860/Add.4). |
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS |
| BACKGROUND Cyprus became independent in 1960 with a Constitution that was intended to balance the interests of both the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities. Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom entered into a treaty to guarantee the basic provisions of the constitution and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cyprus. However, a series of constitutional crises resulted in the outbreak of violence in December 1963. After all attempts to restore peace had failed, on 4 March 1964, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 186 (1964), by which it recommended the establishment of UNFICYP with a mandate 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.
The Council has repeatedly reaffirmed this mandate every six months, although following the events of July 1974, the Council adopted a number of resolutions which required the Force to perform certain additional or modified functions relating to maintenance of the ceasefire. Therefore, since 1974 UNFICYP has also been deployed along a buffer zone between the ceasefire lines of the Cyprus National Guard and the Turkish Forces.
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