S/PV.3222 Security Council

The Security-Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations operation in Cyprus (S/25492). Members of the Council also have before them document S/25831, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to document S/25647, which contains the text of a letter dated 21 April 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that that is the case. There being no objection, it is so decided. Before putting the draft resolution to the vote, I shall call on those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting. the financing of peace-keeping operations is a collective responsibility of the States Members of the United Nations in accordance with Article 17 (2) of the Charter, and that it should be treated as an expense of the United Nations as per the existing special scale of assessments, which particularly takes into account the special responsibility of the permanent members of the Security Council. We view voluntary contributions by Member States as a measure to supplement that established principle, and not as a substitute for it. Accordingly, my delegation voted in favour of the earlier draft resolution during the Security Council's consideration, at its.3211th meeting, held on 11 May 1993, of the question of the financing of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The present text of the draft resolution before the Council touches upon issues that go beyond what is essentially a technical matter. In our view, it would have been more appropriate if the draft resolution had retained its focus on the technical problem of the financing of UNFICYP, which is its stated objective, This is particularly true in view of the fact that the negotiations between the pa;:ties concerned are now at a very delicate stage. RY delegation believes that the draft resoluti'on in its present form could have an unintended impact on the current talks which have resumed in New York between the two parties. At this critical juncture it is important that the Security Council make every effort to encourage that process and provide inducements to the two sides to move forward with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable political solution. My delegation fully supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to seek a political settlement on the question of Cyprus. We believe that a solution to the Cyprus issue can be achieved only though talks between the two communities for the establishment of a bicommunal and bizonal federated State of Cyprus on the basis of the Framework Agreement proposed by the Secretary-General and of Security Council resolution 649 (1990). As a member of the Security Council, Pakistan will continue to extend full and complete support to the endeavours of the Secretary-General in this regard. We urge the parties concerned not to pass up the present opportunity for peace. At the same time, the Security Council, in our view, should exercise great care so as not to send any signals to the parties concerned which might lend themselves to misinterpretation. In view of those considerations, my delegation will abstain in the vote on the draft resolution before the Council. The (interpretation from Russian): I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution contained in document 5125831. A vote was taken bv show of hands. In favour: Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, France, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela Aaainst: None Abstaining: Pakistan

The result of the vote is as follows: 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 831 (1993). I shall now call upon those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting. Mm (United States of America): My delegation welcomes this resolution and the new possibilities which it provides for ensuring that the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) will be able to continue its essential role in stabilizing the situation in Cyprus. We believe this role is a major factor in maintaining an atmosphere in which the two sides can conduct a serious negotiation leading to a final resolution of the Cyprus problem. We fully support the Secretary-General's efforts in his meetings with the leaders of the two Cypriot communities to achieve an agreement this week on the three papers related to confidence-building measures, We support the ideas contained in those papers and have conveyed to both sides our hope that they will reach an agreement on this full package during the course of this week. We think it is particularly important that the two sides agree to, and begin implementing, confidence-building measures now that UNFICYP is facing imminent reductions. As UNFICYP is restructured, it will be increasingly important for the two sides to take concrete steps to reduce tensions and to increase safety along the buffer zone. My delegation and, I feel safe to say, the other members of the Security Council would be most concerned if the current round of negotiations closed this week without a positive result. If this should OCCUL my delegation would expect that the Secretariat would give the Council an accounting of where it believes the responsibility lies, as well as information on how these negotiations will be pursued. With such information in hand, the Council would then be in a position to consider next steps, including, perhaps, a new resolution, of my delegation how delighted we are that it has been possible to agree on this text. We very much welcome the fact that the financing of this important peace-keeping force has at last been put on an equitable and sound basis. This underlines the importance the Security Council attaches to the problem of Cyprus. But I must say that the Council's patience, in my view, is not limitless. My delegation is very concerned to hear that little progress is being made in the talks that are going on. I do npt want at this stage to try to adjudicate as to why that is so - that is a matter for the Secretary-General - but I join the Ambassador of the United States in saying that I hope the Secretary-General will bring it to our attention if in his view one party is more responsible than another for any failure to make progress. But as of ?ow I do not want to look on that negative side: My Government would like to encourage both parties to give their fullest support to the Secretary-General's efforts, and in particular to the three papers he has circulated to the parties on confidence-building measures. We believe that those confidence-building measures, if they could be agreed this week, would be a real step forward and create a quite different atmosphere on the island which would favour the wide.: talks on the set of ideas. So we also urge the parties to negotiate seriously and flexibly on the Secretary-General's set of ideas. I echo the view expressed by the Ambassador of the United States that it may be necessary for the Council to take up the matter after this round of talks, but let us hope in a positive and optimistic spirit, and not in having to face yet another occasion on which there has been no progress. this resolution today, while the Cypriot communities, under United Nations aegis, are here discussing their future, seems to me to be striking proof of the international community's support for a peaceful settlement of their dispute. I also see in this coincidence a significant fact: the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) must from now on operate in conditions of reunification and reconciliation instead of simply being a buffer preventing violent confrontations. By the resolution the international community is making a significant effort to help of the Cypriots. When peace-keeping operations are increasing in regions experiencing genuine tragedies, placing crushing'human and financial burdens on the United Nations, the implications of this new text should be understood by those who benefit from such operations. Agreeing that the financing of UNFICYP should change from being by voluntary contributions to mandatory contributions amounts to requiring that all Member States assume responsibility in a conflict which has lasted for nearly 30 years, even though the broad outlines of reconciliation have long been defined. This effort must be reciprocated. The wording of the resolution clearly spells out what we expect. UNFICYP will not be deployed for ever. With a political settlement of the Cypriot question, its structure will gradually be adapted to new needs created by the implementation of confidence-building measures and progress in political negotiations, for which the set of ideas established by the Secretary-General following intensive talks with all the parties will constitute the framework. In financial terms, a new balance has been established, a balance between voluntary contributions by those who benefit from the protection given by the United Nations forces and mandatory contributions by States. The principle of collective responsibility has been reaffirmed. We attach great importance to this. But we also wish to highlight another, equally important principle, that the beneficiaries must help finance their security, to the extent that they are able. Keeping the balance between voluntary contributions, primarily from the Greek and Cypriot Governments, and the collective effort will be indispensable to maintaining UNFICYP. Every year the Council will reassess the Force, on the basis of a report to be prepared by the Secretary-General: It will explore necessary measures to adapt the machinery to the realities of the day. In our view, it will be a question of gradually converting the unit into a force of observers until. eventually, when the political situation permits, it is disbanded. This original procedure will ensure that we are careful not to let any settlement process to which we are committed to become bogged down, The protagonists will be in New York for a little longer yet. We place great hopes in their meeting. We would regret it if the talks came to an impasse. We call on the parties to show political intelligence, courage and generosity, making the gestures necessary for reconciliation and reunification. We expect European States that support a' system of collective security based on the peaceful settlement of disputes to show their determination to implement their principles and to make efforts that should not be unilateral. statement in my capacity as representative of the Russian Federation. The Russian delegation has noted that the resolution on the financing of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) now clearly indicates a combined method for financing the Force. The main part of the expenditure on the operation will be covered on a voluntary basis, first and foremost by the parties involved, with the remainder being covered by States Members of the United Nations. We also note that the resolution provides that when the Force's mandate is considered in December 1993 there will be a comprehensive reassessment of UNFICYP, including the implications for the future of the Force of progress on confidence-building measures and towards a political settlement. We hope that in the near future, as such progress is achieved, there will no longer be a need for the Force to remain in Cyprus. In view of these factors, the Russian delegation was able to support the draft resolution on this item, The discussion of the financing of UNFICYP has shed light on the fundamental reason for the ongoing tension in Cyprus, that is, the considerable level of military confrontation in the island, which has destabilised the situation and made it difficult to find a just and viable settlement. That is why there is an urgent need to implement confidence-building measures, including those that have been discussed during the current round of the intercommunal talks. In this connection, we should like to express our serious concern at the continued absence of any concrete results arising from those talks. It is our belief that, if the present round of talks yields no results, then the Secretary-General should present the Security Council with exhaustive information as to why the talks ended in this way. In the light of that information, the Council may need to consider further steps to settle the Cyprus problem, including the adoption of a new resolution. In supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General and the proposed steps to restore confidence, we appeal to the parties to the conflict to display due political will and realism and to use the meetings in the context of the current round of talks to achieve agreement. The adoption of these steps and their implementation in accordance with a strictly established timetable would be the first practical step towards a political settlement on Cyprus. In our view, the settlement process in Cyprus has reached a crucial stage. The main and fundamental outlines for a solution to the problem have been clearly laid out in the Secretary-General's set of ideas that have been approved by the Security Council. These proposals represent a sensible and adequate basis for achieving a just and viable settlement in the interests of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Russia favours a speedy political settlement in Cyprus and is prepared to cooperate with all other interested parties and with the permanent members of the Security Council to promote the achievement of a comprehensive framework agreement on a settlement to the Cyprus question, I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. There are no further speakers on my list, The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meetinu rose at 5.30 o,m.