Russia agrees to Cyprus bill

(First Edition)

Barely two weeks after vetoing a Security Council resolution so it would not have to help fund United Nations peace-keeping in Cyprus, Russia reversed itself and agreed to pay its share, AP reports from New York.

Russian joined other council members in a 14-0 vote urging Cyprus to speed up its 19-year process of negotiations. The resolution also agreed, for the first time, that any costs not paid by voluntary contributions would be covered by the UN peace-keeping budget. Russia's about-face came after the Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, warned it would bear sole responsibility for the failure of the force if it persisted, diplomats said.