UN Security Council, at its meeting on 13 December, adopted a resolution regarding the extension of the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for a further period of six months until 15 June 2001.

It is said in the resolution that the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force is extended with the consent of the "Government of Cyprus". What is meant by this is the Greek Cypriot Administration in South Cyprus. As a matter of fact, there has been no single joint political authority representing two sovereign equal peoples in the Island. The operations of the UNFICYP in North Cyprus so far has been possible with the cooperation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The UN has diverted from the established practice and framework as the consent of all the concerned parties have not been sought during the adoption of the resolution no. 1331 of 13 December 2000 as well as the resolution no. 1303 of 14 June 2000.

The consent of the TRNC and Turkey, as a guarantor state, has not been acquired. Therefore, the operations of UNFICYP in North Cyprus has been left in a legal vacuum. We consider this as a dangerous development and precedent not only in terms of the Cyprus issue, but also with regard to the other peacekeeping operations of the UN.

Whereas, with a view to putting the cooperation modalities with the UNFICYP to a sound framework, for some time the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been making constructive proposals. Turkey supports the endeavors of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with a view to putting the operations of the UNFICYP in North Cyprus in the right framework between the two sovereign equal parties in Cyprus. As a country contributing to the UN peacekeeping operations in different disputed areas, Turkey would like to remind that all peacekeeping forces operate with the consent of the concerned parties.

Our views that a separate arrangement has to be made with the Turkish Cypriot side for the operations of the UNFICYP in the North, had been put on record within the context of the UN Security Council resolution no. 1283 of December 1999. The UN Security Council, once again, by disregarding this previously adopted method, displays how contradictory it treats the matter.

There is a reference in the resolution to Akyar which is under the sovereignty of the TRNC and a call, together with the Turkish Cypriot side, to "Turkish forces". As is known, the reason for the arrangements regarding the operations of the UNFICYP in North Cyprus is the adoption of the resolution no. 1303 without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side despite our persistent demands. The decision comprising the principles on the modalities by which the UNFICYP should operate in North Cyprus has been taken by the TRNC Government. Therefore, the addressee of the UN Security Council's call is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

At the same time, this resolution is contrary to the spirit and letter of the UN Secretary General's statement of 12 September 2000, reaffirming the political equality of two peoples of the Island as parties not representing each other. For this reason, the resolution is also in contrast with the efforts of the UN Secretary General's good offices mission.

Turkey does not accept this resolution, which contravenes with the principle of the sovereign equality of the two parties in the Island, adopted without the consent and the approval of Turkey and the TRNC.

The political and legal ramifications of this resolution on the Cyprus issue will be jointly assessed with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.