FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — Senior United Nations officials have underscored the critical role of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), citing persistent low-level tensions in the island’s buffer zone.
In recent briefings to the UN Security Council, Colin Stewart, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, and Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, emphasized the mission’s continued relevance.
According to the Cypriot newspaper Fileleftheros, the UN does not dismiss the significance of minor but ongoing frictions in the buffer zone. The report said these tensions reinforce the need for UNFICYP’s presence and mandate.
Established in 1964 under UN Security Council Resolution 186, UNFICYP is one of the longest-running peacekeeping missions.
It was created to prevent further violence between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities following intercommunal clashes.
After 1974 , the mission’s responsibilities expanded to include patrolling the buffer zone and maintaining the military status quo.
Today, UNFICYP comprises over 800 troops and 60 police officers from multiple countries.
The mission also facilitates humanitarian aid and supports efforts to resume normal civilian activity across the island. Its mandate was most recently renewed through January 2026.