Timeline

UNFICYP’s mandate was extended by Security Council resolution 1847, unanimously adopted on 12 December 2008. This resolution also allowed the Security Council to reaffirm its support for the negotiation process initiated by the two community leaders, and underlined the importance for the parties to fully participate in these negotiations in order to achieve clear progress towards a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the Cyprus problem, in line with the United Nations resolutions.

 On 30 April 2009, The United Nations Security Council adopted a presidential statement,with regard to the situation in Cyprus, reaffirming international community support for inter-community negotiations initiated on 3 September 2008. These negotiations are aimed at reaching a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the Cyprus problem based on bi-communal and bi-zonal federation and political equality, in line with the relevant Security Council Resolutions. The spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Minister indicated on 4 May that France welcomed this declaration and shares in the tribute that it pays to the efforts and political courage currently being shown by the leaders of the two communities.

 With its resolution 1873 of 29 May 2009, the Security Council extended the mandate of UNFICYP until 15 December 2009. In particular, the Council welcomed "the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the prospect of further progress in the near future towards a comprehensive and durable settlement that this has created". The resolution was adopted by 14 votes in favour and one against (Turkey, which joined the Council in January 2009, and which opposed the fact that the international community considers the Government of the Republic of Cyprus as the legitimate representative of the whole island and the fact that this position is reflected in Security Council resolutions).

 On 14 December 2009, the Security Council adopted resolution 1898 extending UNFICYP’s mandate. The text was adopted with 14 votes in favour and 1 against (Turkey).

 On 15 June 2010, the Security Council adopted resolution 1930 extending UNFICYP’s mandate. The text was adopted with 14 votes in favour and 1 against (Turkey).

 On 14 December 2010, the Security Council adopted resolution 1953 extending UNFICYP’s mandate until 15 June 2011. The text was adopted with 14 votes in favour and 1 against (Turkey).

 On 13 June 2011, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1986 extending the mandate of UNFICYP for six months, until 15 December 2011. Before the vote, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Lisa Buttenheim presented an evaluation report on UNFICYP. She explained that the situation was relatively calm, that military violations had decreased and that practical cooperation, particularly with the police, had been effective.

 On 4 November 2011, the Security Council met in consultations to hear the report given by the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General for Cyprus, Mr. Alexander Downer, of the meeting of Greentree held between representatives of both communities on 30 and 31 October 2011 under the auspices of the Secretary-General to find a long-lasting solution to the partition of the island.

 On 9 December 2011, the Security Council met in consultations with Ms. Lisa Buttenheim to receive the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Cyprus. The permanent representative of France expressed support to the dialogue process led by the Secretary-General and stressed its necessary ownership by the two communities. Solutions could not be imposed from outside and political leaders of both parties should show willingness to move forward and allow the organization of an international conference.

 On 14 December 2011, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2026 renewing for six months the mandate of UNFICYP.

 On 29 March 2012, the Security Council met in closed consultations to hear Alexander Downer, Special Adviser of the Secretary General on Cyprus, on the situation in the country.

While progress had been made on the economy and governance, negotiations remained stalled after the Greentree conference on the issues of ownership, citizenship, and organization of the executive power. Mr. Downer expressed the intention of the UN Secretary General to convene a multilateral conference with all parties.

The French representative stressed that all the criterias of a general agreement had to be met before the organization of such a conference, to ensure a positive outcome. Reiterating his support to Mr. Downer, he recalled that a fair and acceptable political solution for both parties had to be found.

 On 10 July 2012, the Security Council met in closed consultations to examine the situation in Cyprus, with Ms Buttenheim, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, and Mr Downer, Special Adviser to the Secretary General in Cyprus.

The Representative of France called upon all the parties to pursue negotiations, in particular on the issue of property and territory. He warned against any political instrumentalization of the review of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), at the moment of the Cyprus presidency of the European Union.

 On 19 July 2012, the Security Council extended for six months the mandate of UNFICYP by adopting resolution 2058 by thirteen votes in favor and two abstentions.

 On 17 January 2013, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus Ms Lisa Butenheim presented his report on the UN action in the country to the Security Council, who met in closed consultations.

The French representative noted that the situation along the ceasefire line remained generally stable even though no new negotiations had taken place since July 2012.

France supported presented by the United-Kingdom the draft resolution renewing for 6 months the UNFICYP mandate.

 On 24 January 2013, the Security Council adopted resolution 2089, extending for six months the mandate of UNFICYP, until 31 July 2013. This resolution received the support of 14 members, while one delegation (Azerbaijan) had abstained.