Concern over U.N. force on Cyprus

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 13

Concern over U.N. force on Cyprus

I.V.Z. Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, February 6. Lack of money is jeopardising- Ute future of the 10-year-old United Nations peacekeeping- force on Cyprus, the United Nations Secretary-General (Dr Kurt Waldheim) says.

In a letter to the Governments of all member-coun-tries, Dr Waldheim says: “A continuing deficit in funds may put the continued existence of the force in doubt.” Supported by voluntary contributions from 55 countries, the international force was sent to Cyprus in 1964, after a civil war between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

In October, Dr Waldheim launched a plan to reduce its strength by 822 from 2700. But he has now issued a warning that unless voluntary contributions continue, "the effect of the economies resulting from the reduction of the force may be partly, or even w'holly, nullified.” The accumulated deficit at December 15, he said, was SUS 19.2 m, and no contributions have yet been received towards the estimated SUS6.2m it will cost to maintain the force for the halfyear ending on June 15. Since 1964, the United States has been the largest (contributor, providing [$US5B.5m of the total given by all countries.