On March 4, 1964, the Security Council adopted resolution 186 which established the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The function of UNFICYP was originally defined by the Security Council in the following terms "in the interest of preserving international peace and security, to use its best efforts to prevent a recurrence of fighting and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions." UNFICYP was to be stationed on the island initially for three months. Its costs would be met by the governments providing the contingents and by the government of Cyprus.
On March 6th, Secretary-General U Thant appointed General P.S. Gyani of India as Commander of UNFICYP. The first troops arrived in Cyprus on March 13th and UNFICYP became fully operational on March 27th. When UNFICYP became operational, its contingents were deployed throughout the island. By June, the force was composed of over 6,200 military personnel. It was composed of military contingents from Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom and civilian police units from Australia, Austria, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden. Despite the efforts of UNFICYP, hostilities would continue to occur intermittently from 1965 to 1974.
In August 1974, there was renewed fighting on Cyprus. A cease-fire came into effect on August 16th. Immediately afterwards, UNFICYP inspected the areas of confrontation and recorded the deployment of the military forces on both sides. Lines drawn between the forward defended localities became the cease-fire lines. These cease-fire lines extend approximately 180 kilometers from Kato Pyrgos on the northwest coast to the east coast at Dherinia. The United Nations buffer zone varies in width from less than 20 meters in Nicosia to some 7 kilometers near Atheinou. It covers about 3% of the island, including some of the most valuable agricultural land. As recorded by UNFICYP, these cease-fire lines became the status quo between the two sides. This status quo was subsequently clarified further and adjusted in numerous local agreements between UNFICYP and the respective sides. Most of these agreements were eventually consolidated in a simple set of rules which UNFICYP communicated to the military forces on both sides in early 1989.
It is an essential feature of the cease-fire that neither side can exercise authority or make any military moves beyond its own forward military lines. In the area between the lines, which is referred to as the United Nations buffer zone, UNFICYP maintains the status quo with a view to safeguarding the legitimate security requirements of both sides while giving due regard to humanitarian considerations.
UNFICYP keeps the cease-fire lines and the buffer zone under constant surveillance through a system of observation posts and patrols. High-powered binoculars and night observation devices are used in this work. The force maintains a patrol track, which runs the length of the buffer zone and is used for surveillance, monitoring of agricultural activities, the supply of observation posts and for rapid reaction to any incidents. In Nicosia, the cease-fire lines are in close proximity. Consequently, the most serious incidents have tended to occur in that city. In May 1989, UNFICYP reached an agreement with both sides whereby they unmanned their positions and ceased their patrols in certain sensitive locations. The opposing troops were moved further apart, although the cease-fire lines were left unchanged. As a result, the number of incidents in Nicosia was reduced.
In accordance with its mandate, UNFICYP encourages the fullest possible resumption of normal civilian activity in the buffer zone. To this end, several villages and areas in the buffer zone have been designated as civilian use areas. This means that they are freely accessible and are patrolled by local civilian police. Elsewhere in the buffer zone, no civilian movement or activity is permitted unless specifically authorized by UNFICYP. In Nicosia, such authorization is given only with the concurrence of both sides. The main civilian activity in the buffer zone is farming.
In addition to monitoring the cease-fire lines, UNFICYP provides important humanitarian assistance on Cyprus. It provides emergency medical service and delivers mail and Red Cross messages across the lines. It cooperates with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist displaced persons. Similarly, it works with the United Nations Development Program to facilitate projects involving both communities. UNFICYP also discharges certain humanitarian functions for the Greek Cypriots living in the northern part of the island, mostly in the Karpas peninsula. The force delivers supplies provided by the Cyprus government and the Cyprus Red Cross Society as well as pensions and welfare payments. UNFICYP personnel verify that any payment transfers to the southern part of the island are voluntary. UNFICYP also delivers supplies to the Maronites living in several villages in the northern part of the island and generally assists them in humanitarian matters. In addition, UNFICYP periodically visits Turkish Cypriots living in the southern part of the island and helps them maintain contact with their relatives in the north.
The United Nations civilian police maintains close cooperation with the Cyprus police and the Turkish Cypriot police on matters having intercommunal aspects. They contribute to law and order in the buffer zone and assist in investigations and in the force's humanitarian activities.
In the absence of a final political settlement, UNFICYP continues its presence on the island. It is one of the longest running UN peacekeeping operations.
Source: The Blue Helmets: A Review of United Nations Peace-keeping. Copyright 1990 United Nations. Published by United Nations Department of Public Information.
