Cyprus, 1999

I would like to extend my

warmest congratulations to you, Sir, on your election as

President of the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth

session. I have no doubt that your long experience and

proven diplomatic skills will guide the work of this session

to a successful conclusion. Moreover, we interpret your

election as a well-deserved recognition of your country,

Namibia, for which the Cypriot people entertain feelings of

admiration and friendship.

I would also like to take the opportunity to express my

appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Opertti of Uruguay,

for the determined leadership with which he steered the

work of the fifty-third session.

Cyprus joins other States in extending a warm

welcome to the new Members of the United Nations: the

Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru and the

Kingdom of Tonga.

As we are rapidly approaching the dawn of the new

millennium, we have an obligation to reaffirm our

commitment to this truly global Organization and to the

ideas that have made the United Nations the hope of

mankind for a world governed by peace, justice and the

rule of law.

And yet, the challenges that we face seem at times

insurmountable. Our world is characterized by a large array

of old and constantly emerging new problems, such as

violent international conflicts and internal strife. Moreover,

the United Nations has to respond to many challenges, such

as the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, the

fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, the control of

epidemics and natural disasters, and the proliferation of

weapons of mass destruction.

The Organization's efforts in these areas have been

considerable and must not be underestimated. I take this

opportunity to reaffirm my Government's strong

commitment to the United Nations and our support for the

ongoing efforts to reform it, so that it will be able to

successfully meet the considerable challenges that lie

ahead.

Cyprus will work towards the successful conclusion

of the Millennium Assembly. We look forward to an

interactive Summit. We anticipate an in-depth and result-

oriented discussion, with the participation of civil society,

during the work of the many special sessions on various

facets of the Organization's work.

One of the major issues of concern to all humanity

is disarmament. I would like to reaffirm our support for

these efforts including, inter alia, a strengthened review

process of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear

Weapons (NPT) and the effective implementation of the

Chemical Weapons Convention.

In the field of human rights, the United Nations

plays a very special role not only in developing and

enhancing the regime of human rights instruments, but

also in the prevention of possible violations and the

constantly expanding humanitarian relief efforts.

On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the

Geneva Conventions, we reaffirm our commitment to the

cause of human rights and the promotion of humanitarian

law. Cyprus fully supported the adoption of the Statute of

a permanent International Criminal Court.

Cyprus follows the situation in the Middle East with

intense interest. We rejoice at the winds of hope that have

recently appeared in the efforts to finally achieve peace in

that long-tormented area and welcome the recent Israeli-

Palestinian agreement. Cyprus, as a neighbouring State

with close relations to the parties involved in the Middle

East, reiterates its support for a just, lasting and

comprehensive settlement based on the relevant United

Nations resolutions and the implementation of the peace

accords.

The recent tragedy that has unfolded in Kosovo has

demonstrated the fragility of peace in the heart of Europe

and the imperative need to address a new array of

problems that have the potential to destabilize an entire

region. The international community, as well as the

parties involved, have an obligation to create the

conditions for reconciliation, so that what has transpired

5

in Kosovo and Yugoslavia in general will never be allowed

to take place again.

Cyprus fully supports Security Council resolution 1244

(1999) and calls for full respect for the human rights of all

Kosovars, irrespective of their origin, as well as for the

sovereignty of all States in the region. My Government also

welcomes the initiative of the European Union that led to

the adoption of the Stability Pact last June as an important

initiative that will contribute considerably to the economic

and political stabilization of south-eastern Europe and help

its peoples construct a new future.

Cyprus welcomes the several United Nations initiatives

and recommendations stemming from the follow-up to the

report of the Secretary-General concerning Africa. The

international community should redouble its efforts to assist

the countries of Africa to overcome the ethnic strife and

wars; to eradicate poverty; successfully to combat disease;

to win the fight against drug trafficking; to obtain

sustainable development; and to face the challenges of the

future.

The recent devastating earthquake that struck Turkey

has once more demonstrated the frailty of human beings

before nature's incredible power of destruction. I take this

opportunity to reiterate to the Turkish people our sympathy

for the enormous losses suffered and to urge the

international community to lend a helping hand for the

reconstruction of the devastated areas. Despite the political

problems that exist between our respective States, the

magnitude of the suffering of the Turkish people has deeply

moved the people of Cyprus.

I wish to congratulate all those countries which rushed

to save Turkish lives, and in particular Greece, which,

despite its many differences and problems with Turkey, was

one of the first countries to send its teams to work side by

side with Turkish teams to rescue the Turkish people who

were buried alive under the ruins of the earthquake. I want

also to congratulate Turkey for reciprocating in the same

manner after the subsequent earthquake in Greece and I

wish to salute the new spirit of friendship which has started

to emerge between the two countries.

This year marks a quarter of a century since the

Turkish invasion and unlawful occupation of 37 per cent of

the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. I could today, from

this podium, point an accusing finger at Turkey and talk at

length about the ethnic cleansing it practised against the

Greek Cypriots, which resulted in 180,000 Greek Cypriots

becoming refugees in their own country. I could bring up

the drama of the relatives of the 1,600 Greek Cypriots

missing since the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces in

1974. I could point out the many violations of human

rights of the Greek Cypriots by citing decisions of the

European Court and reports of the European Commission

of Human Rights, holding Turkey responsible for such

violations. Today I will abstain from doing so, because I

prefer to look to the future, and not to deal with the past.

We are currently waiting for the United Nations

Secretary-General to issue invitations to both sides to take

part in negotiations, under the auspices of the United

Nations, in the most ambitious initiative ever undertaken

to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

This initiative enjoys the active support of the

international community, and particularly the Group of the

eight most industrialized countries, the Security Council,

the European Union and the Non-Aligned Movement.

We are well aware that currently the international

community, and especially those States which are in a

position to influence the foreign policy of Turkey, are

working methodically to persuade Turkey and the Turkish

Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, to participate in talks

without any preconditions; that is, not to insist on the

recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern

Cyprus, and not to demand that negotiations be conducted

between the two States, instead of communities, as

envisaged in the Security Council resolutions.

Regrettably, on 16 September the Prime Minister of

Turkey, Mr. Ecevit, in a public statement, not only

insisted on the two preconditions I have just mentioned,

but added that the economic embargo against the Turkish

Cypriots must be lifted. The Prime Minister of Turkey

knows that the so-called embargo is a result of a decision

of the European Court, to the effect that certificates of

origin and/or quality issued by the so-called Turkish

Republic of Northern Cyprus cannot be accepted by the

European Union, because the State referred to is not

recognized. The Prime Minister of Turkey should also be

aware that there is a category of reciprocal measures that

need to be discussed and resolved, and that the question

of the embargo falls in that category.

I have already stated publicly, but also to the

Secretary-General and to the heads of State or

Government of the five permanent members of the

Security Council, that we are ready to respond positively

to the Secretary-General's invitation to attend the talks

and to negotiate a solution to the problem within the

6

parameters established by the international community

through Security Council resolutions. The parameters so

established provide that Cyprus must be a bicommunal,

bizonal federal republic, with a single sovereignty, an

international personality and a single citizenship, and that

the settlement must exclude union, in whole or in part, with

any other country or any form of partition or secession.

My vision for the solution of the Cyprus problem

within those parameters requires a partnership of the two

communities that would constitutionally provide for the

maximum degree of internal self-administration for the two

constituent cantons, provinces or states. Adhering to the

principle of the equal political status of the constituent

parts, it must provide them with the same rights, powers

and functions regarding their respective separate internal

self-administration. The constitution must also provide for

the effective participation of both communities in the

federal Government.

Such a federation, becoming a member of the

European Union, will thrive at home and abroad, enjoying

genuine peace, stability and security, based on international

law and legality. It will be supervised by an international

force authorized by the Security Council, under terms and

conditions so defined as to give the force the right to

intervene if it finds that one community, by unlawful acts,

puts in danger the safety of the other community or

attempts to destroy the independence, territorial integrity

and sovereignty of the federal State or destroy the

agreements reached.

I have stated that both communities must learn from

the mistakes of the past and must work hard for the

creation of a common and bright future for all, instead of

clinging to attitudes which brought about the tragedy in the

island. It is, therefore, imperative that we find a just,

workable and viable solution which will safeguard the

human rights of every citizen and heal the wounds of the

past, bringing at the same time a sense of security to both

communities by providing full disarmament under

international supervision.

Our side will approach negotiations on the Cyprus

problem with courage and flexibility, partly because we

recognize that solving it is in the interest of all Cypriots,

but also because that will contribute to the overall stability

of the region, which is so much demanded by the

international community.

I regret that Mr. Denktash is reported to have refused

to respond positively to any initiative to negotiate with me

as representative of the Greek Cypriot community, on the

pretext that I am also the President of the internationally

recognized Republic of Cyprus.

Time and time again I have explained to him that I

sit in the talks not as the President of the Republic of

Cyprus, but as the representative of the Greek Cypriot

community, because the Security Council resolutions call

upon the two communities to negotiate, not upon the State

of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot

community.

It also saddens me when he attempts to set aside the

parameters for the solution of the Cyprus problem, set by

the international community and the high-level

agreements he made before the Secretary-General of the

United Nations twice, for a bicommunal, bizonal

federation. He attempts now to set new parameters for the

solution, based on two separate sovereign States, and to

impose their acceptance by refusing to come to the

negotiating table unless his conditions are met.

In support of his precondition, he advances the

argument that the term ”equal political status”, referred to

in United Nations resolutions, must be interpreted to mean

that his break-away Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

must be recognized, since the Republic of Cyprus is

internationally recognized, in order that the two

negotiators may have equal status. He forgets that the

Security Council, by its resolution, deplored the action of

the Turkish side of declaring a separate State, and asked

all its members not to recognize it, a request with which

all complied, with the exception of Turkey, the occupying

Power.

The parameters for the solution of the Cyprus

problem are already in place. They are included in the

relevant United Nations resolutions. What is required is

the political will of the two sides. I can assure the

Assembly that the Greek Cypriot side stands ready to

negotiate in good faith so that a bicommunal, bizonal

Federal Republic of Cyprus will finally become a reality.

I join my voice with those of the G-8, the Security

Council and the European Union in asking Mr. Denktash

to come to the negotiating table without preconditions. I

honestly believe that within the parameters of the Security

Council resolutions we can find a solution which will

safeguard the legitimate interests of both communities and

bring peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

7

I wish also to repeat my invitation to the Turkish

Cypriot community to join forces with us in our European

Union accession course. That course, which is the greatest

achievement since the establishment of the Cyprus

Republic, is continuing with success. Accession to the

European Union will benefit both communities equally.

The Cyprus problem has often been described as

complicated and intractable. I do not share this view. The

Cyprus problem can and will be solved if the international

community demands its solution with the necessary

determination, within the parameters it has set.

In the effort for the solution of the Cyprus problem, as

a small State, Member of the United Nations, we rely on

the support of the international community and the United

Nations. We look upon its Charter as a beacon of justice,

and on the United Nations as the hope for a better future.