UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council extended on Wednesday the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)through mid-December.

    By a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council took note of Secretary-General Kofi Anna's assessment that the security situation on the island continues to be stable, and the situation along the Green Line remains calm, but that nonetheless, there were problems in "a few sensitive areas."

    The Council also took note of the lifting of restrictions of movement of UNFICYP staff by the Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish forces, and took note that UNFICYP "enjoys good cooperation from both sides."

    It also called on them to restore in Strovilia - a small hamletinhabited by Greek Cypriots - the military status quo that existedthere prior to June 30, 2000.

    UNFICYP is the mission that monitors the ceasefire lines, whichextend some 180 kilometres across the island. The mandate, which was set to expire today, will now run through Dec.15, 2005.

    The Security Council also welcomed Annan's intention to keep the operations of UNFICYP under close review, continuing to take into account developments on the ground and the views of the parties, and to revert to the Council with recommendations for further adjustments as appropriate to UNFICYP's mandate, force levels and concept of operation once he judges that sufficient time has passed since the implementation of UNFICYP's new concept of operations to make this assessment. Enditem