UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday adopted the resolution 2300 extending the mandate of United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) by January 31, 2017, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
The UNSC hailed the progress reached by the rival sides at the ongoing reconciliation negotiations, as well as the undertaken settlement efforts.
The Cypriot government has agreed to prolong peacekeepers' presence on the divided island.
The Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied its northern part and proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) nearly a decade later. Only Turkey recognizes the TRNC, also known as Northern Cyprus.
The UNFICYP was initially created to prevent violence between the Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus in 1964. After the Turkish partial occupation of the island, the powers of the UNFICYP have been broadened by the UNSC.
