A/SYG ANNABI BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON

1. (SBU) Summary: In Security Council consultations on June
2, A/SYG Annabi briefed Council members on the latest report
on UNFICYP and reiterated the Secretariat's position that the
situation on Cyprus is not yet ripe for another political
mission aimed at final resolution of the conflict. A/SYG
Annabi noted, however, that U/SYG Gambari would likely visit
Cyprus and the region in July to assess the situation again.
In national comments, most Council members expressed support
for Gambari's upcoming trip and SRSG Moller's current
approach and thirteen of them explicitly called for the
renewal of UNFICYP's current mandate that expires June 15 for
a period of six months. End Summary.

A/SYG Annabi Briefs on Report and U/SYG Gambari's Trip


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2. (SBU) In June 2 UNSC consultations, A/SYG Annabi of the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations briefed Council members
on the SYG's latest report on UNFICYP. In his briefing,
Annabi pointed to the increase in the number of incidents
along the cease-fire line in the past six months, but echoing
the logic of the SYG's latest report, Annabi said that this
was largely due to UNFICYP's new, mobile concept of
operations that draws the force into closer contact with the
two sides. He also reiterated the report's call on the two
sides to participate in consultations on the 1989 Aide
Memoire so as to resolve differences over defining the buffer
zone. Annabi also noted that Papadopoulos and Talat had both
called during the reporting period for the resumption of a
Mission of Good Offices. Annabi explained, however, that the
SYG had decided following his February meeting with President
Papadopoulos and a subsequent phone call to Talat that the
situation was not yet ripe for a new mission. Annabi also
noted U/SYG Gambari's tentative July trip to both the island
and the region to assess the political situation and
prospects for resumption of a political mission and made
reference to the installation of the third member of the
Committee on Missing Persons, which might coincide with
Gambari's July trip.

Comments by UNSC Members: UK, Slovakia, US, Japan and Denmark


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3. (SBU) In national comments, the UK Permrep noted that the
demarcation of the cease-fire line was an important issue, on
which UNFICYP's authority should be respected. The UK also
noted that both sides needed to cooperate on the Ledra
incident and that the addition of a new member of the
Committee on Missing Persons was an important development
that could lead to a meeting between Papadopoulos and Talat.
The lack of significant evolution in the parties' positions
was regrettable and it would be necessary to narrow the gap
between words and deeds. Moller's proposed technical
discussions might be a good way to pave the way forward to
resuming a political process, though they should not be seen
as a substitute for that process. The UK was supportive of a
rollover of UNFICYP's mandate.



4. (SBU) Slovakia argued in favor of extending UNFICYP's
mandate for another six months and for firmly preparing the
ground before another political mission is launched, pointing
to U/SYG Gambari's visit as the next step. Slovakia also
stated that it was prepared to continue facilitating
bi-communal leaders' meetings in Ledra Palace. Speaking for
the U.S., Ambassador Sanders noted that in the absence of a
political solution, incidents like Ledra would continue to
take place. Ambassador Sanders also voiced U.S. support for
UNFICYP's call for consultations on the 1989 Aide Memoire and
Gambari's trip in the hope it would activate the status quo
and lead to a solution to the problem at long last. Japan
said it had sent experts to Cyprus recently who had concluded
that with the passing of time there would be a lower chance
of a mutually-agreed solution because the two communities
were growing farther apart and younger persons in the
communities were less inclined to favor co-existence. Japan
asserted that this could affect Moller's prospects for
progress and asked for Gambari to conduct a review taking
into account the facts on the ground. In it statement, Japan
did not explicitly endorse renewal of UNFICYP's mandate.
Denmark echoed the calls of others for both sides to trust
UNFICYP's judgment and also called for an extension of the
current mandate.

Greek and Russian Comments


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5. (SBU) Greece argued that UNFICYP was indispensable in
Cyprus because of the core security problem of the Turkish
presence on the island and supported extension of UNFICYP's
mandate under the new concept of operations. Greece also

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noted concern over the recent increased number of security
incidents, "feelings of increased tension" and new Turkish
incursions into the buffer zone. Russia's Permrep argued the
importance of maintaining the UN presence in Cyprus for
another six months and noted that the situation along the
cease-fire line was still tense. Russia supported efforts by
Moller to promote dialogue between the two communities.
Despite UN protests, the Turkish Cypriots were still not
allowing UN peacekeepers their full rights, he asserted.

BOLTON