The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended that the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Forces’ Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP) be extended by another six months.

The UN chief in a closed-door session of the Security Council recommended the members to extend the mission’s mandate until January 2023.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged the leaders in Cyprus, President ErsinTatar and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades to encourage more direct contact and cooperation between the two communities, expressing his concern about the likelihood that the already difficult climate between the parties could worsen.

In his report on UNFICYP, which was given to the members of the Security Council, Guterres recommends that the Security Council extends the mandate of the mission for six months, until January 31, 2023.

As is pointed out at the report, the absence of progress towards the resumption of fully-fledged negotiations creates space for new facts on the ground and gives rise to provocative unilateral actions that raise tensions.

The report, considering the complicated regional climate and its impact on Cyprus, calls on the related parties to exercise restraint and to adopt constructive approaches to solve outstanding issues.

Drawing attention to the need for all parties to exercise good will and to create the favourable conditions for a political settlement, the UN Secretary General said he recommended the extension of the force’s mandate to work towards creating those favourable conditions.

Currently UNFICYP’s mandate expires at the end of July.