Australia withdraws officers from Cyprus

Australia will withdraw its final federal police contingent from Cyprus in June, bringing to an end a peacekeeping mission spanning more than 50 years.

The last federal police officers engaged in Australia's first and longest-running peacekeeping mission will withdraw from Cyprus this year.

More than 1600 Australian officers have contributed to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus since 1964.

It was the first time the UN deployed civilian police in a peacekeeping mission to bring an end to hostilities in a troubled nation.

The first Australian contingent of 40 police officers arrived in Cyprus in May 1964. Since then, 111 Australian contingents have served with the peacekeeping force.

Three Australian officers have died while serving in Cyprus.

"Officers have worked in the UN-established buffer zone to maintain peace and stability," Justice Keenan said from Cyprus on Tuesday.

"(They've delivered) humanitarian assistance to isolated residents and performing a liaison role between law enforcement authorities from the north and south."

Seven AFP officers are serving in Cyprus, with their deployment to conclude at the end of June.