Position Paper for the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, Research Paper Example

The Republic of Cyprus

The issues before the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations are: Reforming Peacekeeping to Strengthen Post-Conflict Stabilization Efforts; Cooperation and Capacity Building within Regional Arrangements; as well as Strengthening the Protection Mandates of Peacekeeping Operations. The Cyprus Delegation looks forward to a fruitful debate.

1 Reforming Peacekeeping to Strengthen Post-Conflict Stabilization Efforts

Cyprus became an independent state in 1960 and has engaged in uncontrollable social unrest with Greek and Turkish Cypriots, until the UN Security Council establishment of UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus in 1964. The goal of the UNFICYP was to create a ceasefire between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot warring communities. However, the Security Council has since had to add more resolutions to accommodate the ongoing unresolved conflicts between the two countries. The UNFICYP has remained a staple in Cyprus to maintain international peace. For this reason, Cyprus supports the rule of law initiative of the UN Mission in South Sudan.

At present, the role of peacekeeping efforts of the UN is to enforce the rule of law in South Sudan. The principal goal of the mission is to provide electoral and judicial support of the police forces. The conflict that has arisen throughout the last decade has left the country in turmoil and civil unrest due to crop failure, and militant takeover of the country. Like the past and present history of Cyprus, Cyprus uncompromisingly shows support for the mandate and has joined in with other countries on UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Their goal is in consonance with South Sudan’s civil justice system efforts to strengthen the role, and impact of the South Sudan Police Force already setup in the country.

UNFICYP achievements have resulted in the longevity of peacekeeping efforts, which at some extent reduces civil strife among ethnic groups in the country. Cyprus has maintained finding a diplomatic and practical solution through UN protocols and initiatives in seeking a resolution to the conflict between the two countries.

 2. Cooperation and Capacity Building within Regional Arrangements

Cyprus became a member of the UN in 1960 and joined the European Union (EU) in 2004. Since their combined membership, Cyprus has gained financial, and social success within the global market. Cyprus has shown support for human civil rights, economic, and social development of other countries. The EU and UN have made concerted efforts to promote international peace between countries. Along with Cyprus, they have pursued shared interests in international conflict resolution. Affirming that the UN’s relationship with the EU in the peacekeeping and crisis management areas keeps getting stronger. The UN has gained a foothold in forging relationships with the purpose of peacekeeping in agreements of regions around the world.

Within Cyprus government, there are now two distinct arrangements that describe the state of the Cyprian process. The arrangements include the building cooperation and capacity within its regional neighboring countries, and adaptions to their foreign policy. One provision is the Regional Trades Agreements, which is a combination of the different international trade agreements of member country Cyprus. Through the WTO or World Trade Organization, the economy of Cyprus and the different regions within its territories have become accustomed to the culture of international trade. Along with other member nations of the Regional Trade Agreements, Cyprus has become one of the receivers of its benefits. Another arrangement is Law of the Sea which specifically considers the relationship between countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.

Cyprus has given support to UN efforts to the regional approach in combating the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Africa. Maintaining the peacemaking efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and the Mission of South Sudan. The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C34) continues to foster collaboration and capacity building within regional arrangements. While careful to reiterate the UN’s leadership in the maintenance of international peace and security. The United Nations and the European Union continue to develop adjustments regarding the situation on cooperation between nations. Their cooperation would further enhance the circumstances by which the nations included in the agreement benefit.

III. Strengthening the Protection Mandates of Peacekeeping Operations

Cyprus is unanimously supportive of the Security Council adoption of Resolution 2086 in commitment to strengthening the United Nations’ pivotal role in peacekeeping through a multidimensional approach. Along with Article 8 of the resolution of strengthening protection mandates of substantial support to the national government in various aspects. They aspects include building strong legal, criminal, judicial, and security systems in the spirit of protection and promotion of human rights. Cyprus has joined in on resolutions supporting the elimination of racial and women discrimination and the freedom of religion and beliefs. UNFICYP purpose of keeping political conflicts at minimal remains a problem that the organization needs to find current resolutions. Cyprus continues to reverberate its foreign policy under the best interest of the UN Peacekeeping Efforts in support of other initiatives. Other UN includes the Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia, South Sudan, and the ongoing strategy within their own country.

UNFICYP continues to foster a mandate on establishing peace between Cyprus, Turkey, and other international entities through the efforts of UN initiatives and resolutions. The Security Council recently passed resolution 2089 in January 2013, to keep the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. The resolution was extended due to the current situations between the Turkey and Cyprus that has led to. The resolution calls for both sides to end the longstanding conflict, and Turkey relinquishing the control of illegally obtained land and citizens. The idealization of creating military preparedness for the army is a part of UNFICYP initiative. This strategy includes consideration of the agency towards creating mandates that would establish the responsibly of the military force to protect the efforts of the nation. Their goal is to continue to create modern peace operations that are designed to improve the condition of the country, and its people in relation to the administrative arrangements used to regulate the nation.