Leavenworth Strategist

Cyprus: Security Council extends mandate of UN peacekeeping mission

(UN News Centre) 12 December 2008 –

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) by six months, welcoming September’s historic launch of talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.

The Council voted unanimously to keep the mission, which has been in operation since 1964 after the eruption of intercommunal violence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, in place through 15 June 2009.

EU has "virtual unity" on Kosovo: Sweden's Bildt

Mon Dec 10, 2007

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - All but one of the European Union's 27 member states are ready to accept independence for the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo without a U.N. resolution, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on Monday.

"There is virtual unity on Kosovo," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told reporters ahead of talks in Brussels after a December 10 date deadline set by Western powers for international mediation efforts expired.

He did not name the member state which still wanted a U.N. Security Council resolution before accepting a declaration by ethnic Kosovo Albanian leaders expected within weeks. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said Cyprus was alone in having "an enormous problem" in backing Kosovo independence.

Turkey responds to EU's criticism over ESDP row

Wednesday, December 5, 2007
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

  Turkey responded late Monday the European Union's criticism over its blockage to NATO-European Union defense cooperation and pointed to a deal reached between the parties in 2002 that excludes Greek Cyprus from multinational military operations in which NATO is involved.

   “It should be noted that the Agreed Framework stipulates that only the EU member states which are also either NATO members or parties to the ‘Partnership for Peace,' and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO, can participate in this kind of a cooperation,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement, apparently in reference to EU Commissioner for Enlargment Olli Rehn's remarks last week advising Turkey to let Greek Cyprus join the Kosovo mission.