Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-12-08

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] UNSC CYPRUS

[02] DEMINERS BUFFER ZONE FIRE VEHICLES

[01] UNSC CYPRUS

The briefing will take place during a closed session of the Security Council.

Meanwhile, the five Security Council Permanent Members continue their consultations on a draft resolution on the renewal of UNFICYPs mandate.

A diplomatic source has not ruled out an agreement among the five representatives on a final text that will be delivered to the other SC member states by tonight. The resolution is expected to be adopted on December 14.

UNFICYP, comprising 859 military personnel from about seven troop contributing countries in addition to 68 personnel, at the end of October this year, arrived in Cyprus in March 1964 after inter-communal fighting broke out. The mandate of the force is renewed every six months by the Security Council.

UNFICYPs mandate, according to the UN report, is to contribute to the restoration of normal conditions and entails the facilitation of an increasingly wide range of civilian activities.

The SG said in his report that he plans in the coming months, to conduct a broader assessment of the United Nations presence in Cyprus, with a view to recommending ways to further adjust to ongoing developments.

As at 31 October 2010, the total outstanding assessed contributions to the special account for UNFICYP for the period from 16 June 1993 to 31 October 2010 amounted to 15.1 million dollars. The total outstanding assessed contributions for all peacekeeping operations as at the same date amounted to 2,919.5 million dollars, the report said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. UN-led peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country.

[02] DEMINERS BUFFER ZONE FIRE VEHICLES

He told CNA that UN deminers will commence work today to demine the area surrounding the three firefighting vehicles with the aim of removing them safely to a location, where they can be safely removed by the local authorities.

Given the complexity and dangers involved in such operations, this could take several days before it is completed, he explained.

The three fire engines had entered the buffer zone between the areas of Mammari and Denia in Nicosia district last week, responding to a call for help to extinguish a fire. One of the vehicles set off a mine which exploded. Nobody was injured.

The firefighters managed to escape unharmed.

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