United Nations Security Council Resolution 1953
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1953, adopted on December 14, 2010, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Cyprus
, particularly Resolution 1251
(1999), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
(UNFICYP) for a further six months until June 15, 2011, calling for Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to develop a plan for overcoming differences before the Secretary-General visit in January 2011.
The resolution was adopted by 14 votes to one against from Turkey
and no abstention
s. The Turkish representative said that the island did not have a single government since 1963, though it would continue to implement the resolution.
had agreed to the continued presence of UNFICYP on the island. A solution to the conflict was down to the Cypriots themselves, and there was a unique opportunity to achieve a lasting settlement. There was progress in the peace talks though the Council remained concerned that progress was slow. It welcomed the implementation of confidence-building measures by both Cyprus
and Northern Cyprus and encouraged further crossing points to be opened along the Green Line
. The Limnitis
crossing opened in October 2010 which was further welcomed.
The Council remained convinced that a durable settlement of the Cyprus dispute
would be beneficial for all Cypriots and the situation in the buffer zone would improve if both sides accepted the 1989 aide-mémoire used by the United Nations. It was convinced that undermining the credibility of the United Nations was detrimental to the peace process. Furthermore, the Council welcomed progress in demining
activities, the efforts of the Committee on Missing Persons, and agreed that the active participation of civil society groups and bi-communal contacts was essential to the political process.
.
The Turkish Cypriot side was urged to restore the military status quo in Strovilia
that existed there before June 30, 2000. Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
was requested to submit a report by June 1, 2011 on the implementation of the current resolution.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1953, adopted on December 14, 2010, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, particularly Resolution 1251
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1251
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1251, adopted unanimously on June 29, 1999, after reaffirming all past resolutions on the situation in Cyprus, including resolutions 1217 and 1218 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for a further six...
(1999), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus was established in 1964 to prevent a recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions...
(UNFICYP) for a further six months until June 15, 2011, calling for Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to develop a plan for overcoming differences before the Secretary-General visit in January 2011.
The resolution was adopted by 14 votes to one against from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and no abstention
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
s. The Turkish representative said that the island did not have a single government since 1963, though it would continue to implement the resolution.
Observations
The Security Council noted that the Cypriot governmentPolitics of Cyprus
Politics of the Republic of Cyprus takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Cyprus is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is...
had agreed to the continued presence of UNFICYP on the island. A solution to the conflict was down to the Cypriots themselves, and there was a unique opportunity to achieve a lasting settlement. There was progress in the peace talks though the Council remained concerned that progress was slow. It welcomed the implementation of confidence-building measures by both Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and Northern Cyprus and encouraged further crossing points to be opened along the Green Line
United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus
The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus runs for more than along what is known as the Green Line and has an area of . The zone partitions the island of Cyprus into a southern area effectively controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus , and the northern area...
. The Limnitis
Limnitis
Limnitis is a village in the Tilliria region in Nicosia District, North Western Cyprus. The ancient Vouni Palace was located nearby. It is a small village located on the shores of the Morphou Bay...
crossing opened in October 2010 which was further welcomed.
The Council remained convinced that a durable settlement of the Cyprus dispute
Cyprus dispute
The Cyprus dispute is the result of the ongoing conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, over the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus....
would be beneficial for all Cypriots and the situation in the buffer zone would improve if both sides accepted the 1989 aide-mémoire used by the United Nations. It was convinced that undermining the credibility of the United Nations was detrimental to the peace process. Furthermore, the Council welcomed progress in demining
Demining
Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...
activities, the efforts of the Committee on Missing Persons, and agreed that the active participation of civil society groups and bi-communal contacts was essential to the political process.
Acts
The resolution welcomed the progress of negotiations and the prospect of progress in the near future towards a settlement. In this regard, it called on the two Cypriot leaders to intensify negotiations, improve their atmosphere, and increase the participation of civil society. Furthermore, both sides were called upon to participate in consultations on the demarcation of the buffer zone and the 1989 aide-mémoireAide-mémoire
In international relations, an aide-mémoire is a proposed agreement or negotiating text circulated informally among delegations for discussion without committing the originating delegation's country to the contents. It has no identified source, title, or attribution and no standing in the...
.
The Turkish Cypriot side was urged to restore the military status quo in Strovilia
Strovilia
Strovilia is a small village located right at the border of the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with the British Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia. It is the site of a Green Line crossing....
that existed there before June 30, 2000. Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
was requested to submit a report by June 1, 2011 on the implementation of the current resolution.
See also
- Cyprus disputeCyprus disputeThe Cyprus dispute is the result of the ongoing conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, over the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus....
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- United Nations Buffer Zone in CyprusUnited Nations Buffer Zone in CyprusThe United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus runs for more than along what is known as the Green Line and has an area of . The zone partitions the island of Cyprus into a southern area effectively controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus , and the northern area...
- Turkish invasion of CyprusTurkish invasion of CyprusThe Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...