New York, United States. The UN Security Council’s renewal of Unficyp’s mandate until January 31, 2027, drew criticism from the north, which called on the UN to abandon the federal model in favour of a two-state solution. The north’s ‘foreign ministry’ said the decision was taken without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side and described it as unacceptable.
Objection to mandate renewal
In its statement following the Security Council decision, the north’s ‘foreign ministry’ said renewing the mandate based solely on the consent of the Republic ignores the existence and will of the Turkish Cypriot people. It said the continued operation of Unficyp in its territory rests solely on good faith and the constructive attitude of the authorities.
Call to abandon federation model
The statement rejected a bizonal, bicommunal federation as a historically flawed model. It said the only realistic path forward was the development of good neighbourly relations between two existing states based on sovereign equality and equal international status.
Appeal to Security Council members
Security Council members were urged to rethink their position, reconsider what the statement called outdated resolutions, and adopt a new approach based on the existence of two peoples and two states with separate sovereign wills within their borders.
Claims of bias and references to specific issues
The statement accused the UN of failing to act with neutrality and said Unficyp has become a de facto protector of the status quo, which it said all sides accept is unsustainable. It claimed the UN avoids explicitly attributing responsibility to the Greek Cypriot side in reports and resolutions, which it said undermines the accuracy of the facts and fuels intransigence.
It also referred to what it described as Greek Cypriot efforts to advance hegemonic ambitions over the entire island instead of reaching a fair, lasting, and sustainable agreement with the Turkish Cypriots. Specific reference was made to issues including Varosha, the Strovilia and Pyla crossing, confidence building measures, and incidents in the buffer zone, with the north alleging that violations by the Republic are downplayed or left unclear.
What impact do you think the UN’s mandate renewal will have on prospects for talks?