The mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is extended every six months. The most recent resolution adopted to this end in the UN Security Council on 27 July contains certain wordings which prejudge the future conduct of the Cyprus settlement process.

The Conference on Cyprus was concluded without any outcome on 7 July 2017, as also openly stated by the UN Secretary-General. In his periodic report on UNFICYP issued on 10 July, the UN Secretary-General indicated the disappointment which ensued from the closure of the Conference on Cyprus without an agreement being reached. The Secretary-General invited the parties, particularly the two Leaders on the Island, to reflect deeply on this result and on the possible way ahead.

This being the case, the wordings prejudging the period ahead in the resolution on the extension of UNFICYP’s mandate have no meaning. Taking into account the recommendation of the UN Secretary-General, Turkey is continuing its assessment of the future steps to be taken on the settlement of the Cyprus issue in light of its observations concerning the course of the process to date as well as its determination to reach a lasting settlement.