SG/SM/9259
                                                                                                                 20 April 2004

Secretary-General Welcomes Security Council Pledge to Help Parties in Cyprus Meet Commitments under Settlement Plan

NEW YORK, 19 April (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday, 16 April:

The Secretary-General welcomes the willingness of the Security Council to help ensure that all parties fully meet their commitments under the proposed comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, should it be approved by the democratic decision of the people of Cyprus on 24 April 2004.

He also welcomes the Council’s readiness to take further action as provided for in the settlement, including the establishment of a new United Nations operation.

The Secretary-General will be reporting to the Security Council soon, asking it to take decisions in accordance with the settlement, including on a reconfigured United Nations peacekeeping operation.

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