U-N / CYPRUS / RESOLUTION (L-ONLY) BY CHRIS SIMKINS/UNITED NATIONS
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
DATE=6/23/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-180964
TITLE=U-N / CYPRUS / RESOLUTION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CHRIS SIMKINS
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (FRIDAY)
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A SIX MONTH EXTENSION WAS FOR THE U-N
PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN CYPRUS. THE EXTENSION WAS THE ONE
THOUSANDTH RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL SINCE THE
UNITED NATIONS WAS FOUNDED 50 YEARS AGO. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT
CHRIS SIMKINS REPORTS FROM U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK.
TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A RESOLUTION
EXTENDING THE MANDATE FOR THE U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN CYPRUS
UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 12-HUNDRED U-N
PEACEKEEPERS IN CYPRUS. THE U-N FORCES -- MADE UP MAINLY OF
TROOPS FROM ARGENTINA, AUSTRIA, AND BRITAIN -- PATROL A BUFFER
ZONE STRETCHING ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND. THE U-N HAS HAD
PEACEKEEPERS STATIONED IN CYPRUS SINCE 1964. THE SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION CALLS FOR A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF TURKISH TROOPS
ON THE ISLAND AND A CUT IN DEFENSE SPENDING.
SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI HAS SAID THE PEACEKEEPING
MISSION IN CYPRUS IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE NORTHERN PART OF THE
ISLAND -- WITH 30-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS AND FOUR THOUSAND
TURKISH CYPRIOT TROOPS -- REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY
MILITARIZED AREAS IN THE WORLD, IN TERMS OF THE RATIO BETWEEN THE
NUMBER OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. THE GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS HAS
BEEN VIRTUALLY CUT OFF FROM THE REST OF THE ISLAND SINCE TURKEY
INVADED AND OCCUPIED THE NORTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND IN 1974.
IN APPROVING THE EXTENSION OF THE U-N PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN
CYPRUS THE SECURITY COUNCIL URGED BOTH SIDES TO MAKE EFFORTS TO
FIND COMMON GROUND FOR A RESUMPTION OF DIRECT PEACE TALKS AND
PROMOTE AN ATMOSPHERE OF TOLERANCE AND RECONCILIATION IN CYPRUS.
/// REST OPT ///
THE RESOLUTION ON CYPRUS WAS THE ONE THOUSANDTH ADOPTED BY THE
SECURITY COUNCIL SINCE THE UNITED NATIONS WAS FOUNDED IN 1945.
IN THE UNITED NATIONS FIRST 45 YEARS THE COUNCIL PASSED 646
RESOLUTIONS. IN THE LAST 5 YEARS IT ADOPTED NEARLY HALF THAT
NUMBER, 324. U-N OFFICIALS SUGGEST THE INCREASING NUMBER
INDICATES THAT THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING CONSENSUS IN THE COUNCIL
TO RESPOND TO THREATS TO SECURITY AND PEACE AROUND THE WORLD.
(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/CS/LSF/PT
23-Jun-95 5:42 PM EDT (2142 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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