On 19 December 1991 former U.N. Secretary-General Mr. Perez de Cuellar submitted his
final report on Cyprus to the Security Council. He observed that the resolutions adopted
unanimously by the Security Council during the last two years as well as the seven
Presidential statements provide a clear basis for completing the work on an overall
framework agreement and give clear guidance to the Secretary-General on how to proceed.
The Secretary-General also presented the "set of ideas" on a Cyprus settlement as they had
evolved through the U.N. mediation effort. Although for a significant number of issues
"the ideas should make it possible for the two sides to reach agreement," he observed that
little progress had been achieved on either the right of refugees to return to their homes or
the amount of territory under a federal structure that would be under Turkish Cypriot
administration. The Secretary-General concluded that he was disappointed that the Cyprus
problem, with which he had been personally involved since 1975, has not been resolved
yet. He was, however, "heartened by the fact that the Security Council, despite the
passage of time, remains determined that a just and lasting solution should be achieved on
Cyprus. There is indeed ample proof that the status quo in Cyprus is not an option and that
the disturbing current situation must be solved". He further stressed that it was vital that
the set of ideas that emerged from the talks which his representatives had in Ankara in
August 1991 be preserved and completed and that it was essential that all parties focused
their attention on establishing a federal republic. "A solution is within reach if all
concerned are willing to make their contribution to a compromise solution that will
safeguard the legitimate interests and concerns of both communities", the SecretaryGeneral
concluded.
On 23 December 1991, the Security Council through a statement by its President
unanimously endorsed the Secretary-General's belief that "a solution of the Cyprus
problem is long overdue" and that "the mere maintenance of the status quo does not
constitute a solution." The Council requested the new U.N. Secretary-General to report
back by April 1992 on "whether sufficient progress has been made to convene the highlevel
international meeting and, should conditions not be ripe, to convey to the Council the
set of ideas as they will have evolved by that time with his assessment of the situation".
