UN Security Council urges acceleration of Cyprus talks

The UN Security Council urged all parties in the Cyprus conflict "to demonstrate political will and engage constructively" on Thursday, extending a UN peacekeeping force there until the end of January 2019.

The unanimous decision to extend the mission, known as UNIFCYP, for six months comes amid a U.S. push to downsize the force, which stands at roughly 1,000 UN personnel.

The Security Council established UNFICYP in 1964, and has renewed the mission’s mandate for six-month terms since then.

Security Council President Olof Skoog urged the parties to seize the opportunity afforded by the council's vote during brief remarks to reporters.

The adopted resolution welcomes the appointment of UN Consultant Jane Holl Lute to be a temporary advisor to conduct consultations on the divided island.

Lute, who is already in Cyprus engaging with the parties, is expected to report back to Secretary General Antonio Guterres by October.

"There is a lot of back and forth on these resolutions, but in the end its about really ensuring that the political process is boosted and that there are confidence-building measures in the meanwhile," Skoog said.

Lute was the former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security under U.S. President Barack Obama. She was appointed to the UN as the Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse in 2016.

The United States, which wants to either reduce or do away altogether with the peacekeeping mission, is seeking immediate action from the island’s leaders to resolve the conflict.

But diplomatic sources tell Anadolu Agency that Britain, France, Russia and China have ruled out an elimination of UNFICYP.

The UK and France have expressed concern that the peacekeeping mission provides stability in the island, and said the closure of the mission would worsen tensions.

In addition, the Greek Cypriot administration is concerned about the possibility of the force being reduced or closed down.

In a letter to the Security Council the southern administration said: "UNFICYP ensures stability in the island while playing a crucial role towards efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue, as it contributes to settlement talks by keeping tensions at a minimum, despite numerous challenges."

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), on the other hand, argues that the peacekeeping mission in the island has lost its important function.