Azerbaijan corrects UNSC resolution on Cyprus

The UN Security Council has extended the UN peacekeeping mission on Cyprus until January 2013 by passing a resolution on Thursday, 1news.az reports.

Out of 15 members of the Security Council, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, as temporary members with no veto right, abstained from voting on the resolution.

The UK wanted a special mandate for the monitoring mission in 2013. Azerbaijan and Pakistan spoke out against it. As a result, London had to change its approach. Turkey voted against the project.

The UN peacekeeping forces on Cyprus are one of the oldest peacekeeping missions, initiated in 1964 to prevent confrontation between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island.

The mission included 926 troops, including 68 police officers, 40 civilian officials from 18 states and 111 civilian officials of Cyprus, according to the mission’s status on August 31, 2009.