I wish to congratulate
you, Sir, on your election as President of the General
Assembly at its sixty-ninth session, and I convey my
Government’s full support in the exercise of your
high duties with the shared goal of promoting United
Nations principles in a period of great uncertainty and
instability.
The General Assembly constitutes the only
international forum in which all Heads of States or
Governments gather together in order not only to
brief international public opinion about serious issues
faced by their countries, but to also deliberate on all
regional and international challenges that are not
country-specific and that call the international order
into question.
We should always bear in mind that the United
Nations was created with the aim of maintaining
international peace and security, thus fostering the
effective protection of the fundamental freedoms and
human rights of all people, irrespective of gender,
racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief. For those
principles at the heart of the Charter of the United
Nations to be upheld, we should all realize that in an
era of globalization, all Members of the Organization
are bound to be affected, one way or another, by
events unfolding in any country or region, although
in a dissimilar magnitude and at different times.
Therefore joint actions are needed, through a common
understanding that despite our individual differences,
the path to peace, stability and democracy can be
achieved only through the United Nations. Enhancing
its role, adhering to the principles of its Charter and
implementing its resolutions are a sine qua non for
effectively tackling both new and long-standing threats.
The upcoming seventieth anniversary of the United
Nations will be a significant milestone in United
Nations history. Cyprus believes that it is now the right
moment to intensify our efforts and commit ourselves
to move ahead through self-assessment and an all-
inclusive debate so as to reach a tangible outcome that
will strengthen the relevance and effectiveness of the
Organization. In that connection, I would like to recall
the 2005 World Summit, during which world leaders
agreed to an early reform of the Security Council.
A year ago, when for the very first time I addressed
the Assembly (see A/68/PV.12), I conveyed my deep
concern and indignation about acts that we were
witnessing that undermined the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of States, causing regional and
global insecurity, such as terrorism, the annexation
of territories via illegal use of force, religious
fundamentalism and the forcible displacement of
millions of peoples. Unfortunately, despite our efforts,
we have to admit that during the past year we have not
adequately risen to meet those challenges. It is even
more worrying that their extent and impact has been
intensified at the expense of human lives, individual
and collective social and economic prosperity and,
ultimately, regional and international peace and
security.
Everything we are witnessing in Libya, Lebanon,
Syria and Iraq, particularly following the emergence
of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the perpetration
of its untold atrocities, should not leave us indifferent
or passive. It is our duty towards humankind and our
shared values to immediately adopt a more proactive
involvement, so as to save future generations from
the plague of asymmetrical threats, terrorism and
bald hatred. In that connection, we welcome Security
Council resolution 2178 (2014), adopted last Wednesday,
to decisively address the growing threat posed by the
unprecedented flow of foreign terrorist fighters and
the growth of facilitation networks fuelling conflicts
around the world. We expect that those responsible for
the shocking crimes committed in the past few weeks
will be held accountable.
At the same time, we should not ignore that deep-
rooted and long-standing conflicts possess the ability
to instantly ignite regional instability, cause bloodshed
and endanger the lives of thousands of innocent
civilians, including children. Regrettably, such events
sow the seeds of animosity and of further violence
that render dialogue and negotiations more difficult to
conduct and to eventually bring to success.
Specifically with regard to the Middle East peace
process, the right of the Israeli people to statehood
should not be called into question, nor should the
same right for the people of Palestine. We commend
the very positive role of the Egyptian Government in
mediating between the two sides. At the same time, we
strongly urge all interested stakeholders to discourage
the activities of terrorist groups that oppose the Middle
East peace process.
Furthermore, we cannot remain indifferent to
what is taking place in Ukraine and the repercussions
on the relations between some of the most important
and influential actors in the world arena — the United
States, the Russian Federation and the European Union.
We welcome the agreement reached in Minsk on
5 September, and we call for it to be honoured and fully
implemented by all sides.
Of course, above and beyond those regional
conflicts, we should be vigilant and remind ourselves
that other conventional and unconventional challenges
pose existential dangers that we have yet to tackle.
Those include, among others, human trafficking, the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and
global poverty, hunger and distress, which intensify
migration flows and create demographic changes and
the spread of epidemic such as the recent example
of Ebola. Moreover, the effects of climate change
could eventually, in the distant future, turn out to be
irreversible and catastrophic.
Cyprus lies at the crossroads of Europe, North
Africa and the Near and Middle East, a volatile region
in which most conflicts take place. However, we
take pride on being a member State of the European
Union (EU) and in enjoying excellent relations with
all our neighbours. Hence, we are considered to be an
honest broker with no hidden agendas. We do realize
that our geography is our destiny. We have assumed a
constructive role in upholding United Nations values
and principles and are contributing to peace efforts in
our region, always, of course, within our capabilities.
We are at the forefront of efforts to fight terrorism,
human trafficking and the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction and to provide humanitarian aid and
facilities when deemed necessary. Only yesterday,
Cyprus was instrumental in rescuing around 350
Syrian refugees from a fishing boat stranded in the
Mediterranean, thus averting a great humanitarian
catastrophe.
The discovery of hydrocarbons in our
neighbourhood has undoubtedly upgraded its strategic
importance. Energy can serve as a catalyst for broader
cooperation, thus contributing to peace and stability.
and can be a means to strengthen regional and EU
energy security and diversification. That would boost
the economies of the countries in the area. We are ready
to contribute toward that cause and even to mediate to
bring together neighbouring hydrocarbon-producing
and hydrocarbon-consuming countries.
The year 2014 marks the fortieth anniversary of the
violent division of my country as a consequence of the
1974 invasion and continuing occupation by Turkey.
It is not my intention to engage in a blame game, as
a plethora of United Nations resolutions and Security
Council decisions not only truly reflect the historic and
continuing responsibilities of those who are at fault,
but also condemn the unacceptable status quo and call
for the reunification of Cyprus and the withdrawal of
occupation forces.
What I would like to stress once more is my sincere
commitment to working vigorously and with resolve to
reach, through a constructive, in-depth and substantive
dialogue, a settlement that will reunite Cyprus and its
people, restore the fundamental freedoms and human
rights of all its lawful citizens, relieve the island of
the presence of occupying troops, ensure peaceful
coexistence and socioeconomic collaboration among
all its citizens, and guarantee the effectiveness and
efficient functioning of Cyprus as an EU member State.
For me, there is only one plan, and that is to reach
a settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of
what has been agreed as a compromise: the evolution
of the Republic of Cyprus into a bicommunal, bizonal
federation with political equality, as set out in the
relevant Security Council resolutions and the high-
level agreements, with a single sovereignty, a single
international legal personality and a single citizenship.
After months of difficult negotiations, a joint
declaration was agreed between the two communities
on 11 February 2014, setting out the basic guidelines
and principles for reaching the framework of the agreed
solution, as well as the methodology of the negotiating
process. At the same time, it is extremely important
that the joint declaration clearly articulates that the
shared, sole purpose of the negotiating process is to end
the unacceptable status quo and reach a settlement that
will safeguard and respect the principles upon which
the European Union is founded. Following the joint
declaration and intensive negotiations between the two
sides, comprehensive proposals on all chapters of the
Cyprus problem have been submitted. We have now
reached the phase of concentrating our efforts to bridge
the differences so as to pave the way towards a viable,
lasting solution.
I wish to take this opportunity to warmly welcome
the Secretary-General’s recent appointment of his new
Special Adviser, Mr. Espen Barth Eide. We believe
that that appointment at this critical juncture in the
negotiation process demonstrates the United Nations’
determination to ensure that that process moves
decisively forward. However, it goes without saying
that what is also needed is a demonstration of a genuine
will by our compatriots to negotiate in good faith and
by Turkey to contribute constructively to the efforts to
reach a settlement, not only in theory and rhetoric, but
through practical and substantial actions.
A first step towards the long-awaited demonstration
of genuine political will would be the adoption of
my package proposal for bold confidence-building
measures that would create a win-win situation
for all parties concerned, helping to build mutual
understanding, confidence and good will and thereby
serving as a catalyst for the ongoing negotiating process.
Moreover, we expect Turkey’s sincere cooperation on
the humanitarian issue of missing persons, including
through granting access to all areas as required and
providing the necessary information that will help
shed light on their fate and alleviate the pain of their
relatives.
Cyprus and its citizens deserve much more than a
divided country. Forty years is more than enough for all
of us. It is high time for all those involved to realize that
the artificial complacency with regard to the status quo
benefits no one. A solution would benefit all Cypriots,
Turkey, our immediate region and the international
community. My ultimate vision is to relieve all Cypriots,
especially the younger generation — the future of the
country — of the anachronistic burden of having to live
in a divided country in which they are forcibly prevented
from enjoying the freedoms that are the birthright of
every citizen in the world — a burden that they are not
to blame for and are entitled to see redressed. I will
not deviate from pursuing that vision, as that is the
duty I have undertaken towards all Cypriots. Nor will
I shy away from the historic responsibility to provide a
stable, peaceful and prosperous and conciliatory future
in my country.
It would be a serious omission if, before concluding,
I did not extend the sincere gratitude of my people
and my Government to the Secretary-General and the
Security Council for the work of the United Nations
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus over the past 50 years,
which constitutes a prime example of the successful
role that the United Nations can play in peacekeeping.
While we greatly value the benefits of peacekeeping
and the role played by the United Nations to that end, we
consider that it is even more important to support and
empower the Organization to continue its work towards
peacemaking, peacebuilding and conflict prevention,
particularly with regard to new and emerging threats.
On my country’s behalf, I want to assure the Assembly
that we will continue to offer any help deemed necessary
to achieve those noble objectives.