UNITED NATIONS: The Security Council pressed Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Tuesday to speed up reunification talks and renewed the mandate of the UN force on the divided island for another six months. Fourteen of the council’s 15 members backed a resolution urging the two sides to take advantage of recent progress “by intensifying the momentum of negotiations, preserving the current atmosphere of trust and goodwill and engaging in the process in a constructive and open manner.” The lone vote against came from Turkey, with its ambassador Ertugrul Apakan objecting that some of the language in the text was formulated as if there were “only one side in the dispute.” The resolution, sponsored by Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, also extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force (UNFICYP), which expires on Tuesday, until next December 15. UNFICYP has been patrolling the Mediterranean island’s ceasefire line since 1964. UN envoy Alexander Downer voiced hope early this month that the inter-communal talks could be concluded by year’s end. And UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned Cypriot leaders that time is running out for a peace deal, but expressed confidence an agreement can be reached in coming months.