Cyprus, 2001

I would like to extend my

warmest congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your

well-deserved election as President of the fifty-sixth

session of the General Assembly. I also extend my

appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Harri Holkeri, for

his effective leadership during his presidency.

The heinous terrorists attacks of 11 September

have undeniably transformed international relations.

The United Nations is called upon to reinforce its

primary role as the standard bearer of the principles

that will shape the new environment and unite

humanity in the pursuit of justice, tolerance, the dignity

of human beings, respect for human rights, the

promotion of peace and zero-tolerance for the dark

forces of terrorism.

On behalf of the Government and people of

Cyprus, I reiterate our deep condolences and sympathy

to the American people for the tragic loss of innocent

lives caused by the abhorrent terrorist acts of 11

September. We unreservedly condemn these barbaric

acts, which we consider to be attacks against the values

and principles of humanity.

The community of nations must individually and

collectively take concerted and resolute action against

terrorism. We believe that there is no justification or

excuse for terrorism and, at the same time, we reject

any notion of linking this scourge with any particular

religious faith or ethnic group. We renew our

commitment to implement fully Security Council

resolutions on terrorism, in particular resolution 1373

(2001). Cyprus is actively participating in the common

effort. It has ratified or acceded to nine of the 12

international conventions pertaining to international

terrorism. Furthermore, we expect an early ratification

of the most recent Convention for the Suppression of

the Financing of Terrorism, which is already before the

House of Representatives.

The Council of Ministers of the Republic of

Cyprus approved on 20 September a comprehensive

proposal for the establishment of a task force to combat

international terrorism.

The United Nations continues to be faced with

old and new tasks: globalization, good governance,

protection of the environment and the need for

sustainable development. The elimination of poverty

and pandemics, securing a world free from the threat of

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weapons of mass destruction and maintaining

international peace and security remain high on the

agenda. That is why we consider it imperative and the

duty of each and every Member to provide the

necessary resources and support to our Organization.

Cyprus strongly supports the implementation of

the commitments we undertook last year in the

Millennium Declaration. We also advocate the

strengthening and rationalization of the United Nations

system, and we welcome the commitment of the

Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to strive for a better

and more just world. We congratulate him on the award

of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, which is well-

deserved recognition of the central role of the United

Nations and a tribute to its achievements, as well as to

his personal devotion and commitment.

At the beginning of this new millennium, we have

a special obligation to place new emphasis on the

promotion and the protection of human rights and the

defeat of terrorism.

However, the adoption of declarations and legal

instruments in the area of human rights is not enough.

We need to make accountable those violators of human

rights and decisively strike at the culture of impunity.

This is why Cyprus strongly supports the early entry

into force of the International Criminal Court.

We are also deeply concerned with the increasing

number and scope of humanitarian emergencies leading

to an ever-rising number of refugees and internally

displaced persons. The plight of these unfortunate

people merits special attention and coordinated action.

The tragic events of 11 September have

highlighted the need to continue and accelerate efforts

to prevent and resolve regional conflicts. The inability

of the international community to put an end to the

unacceptable situation in the Middle East undermines

the credibility of the system of collective security.

Cyprus, as a neighbouring country with close relations

to the peoples of the region, is particularly pained by

the continuing cycle of violence, the tragic loss of

innocent human lives and the plight of the Palestinian

population.

We look forward to a region living in peace,

stability and security for all States, including the State

of Israel. We reiterate our support for the fulfilment of

the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,

including the creation of their own State. We urge both

parties to work immediately towards finding ways to

put an end to this cycle of violence and to respect the

provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention. We

consider the implementation of the recommendations

of the Mitchell report as an absolutely necessary first

step in this direction. Cyprus reiterates its long-held

position for the implementation of Security Council

resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).

We follow the situation in the Balkans with

particular interest. Cyprus supports the implementation

of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) on Kosovo.

We hope that the forces of peace and reconciliation will

prevail and welcome the recent positive developments

in the country. We support respect for human rights and

fundamental freedoms, including the right of return of

refugees and the return of property of displaced

persons, and the principle of the inviolability of

borders and territorial integrity.

Resolution of the Cyprus problem is long

overdue. I cannot conceal my deep disappointment,

shared by the Security Council in its statement to the

Press of 26 September, at the refusal of the Turkish

side to continue with the proximity talks to help the

Secretary-General’s efforts to find a comprehensive

settlement. The refusal of Turkish Cypriot leader

Mr. Denktash, with the support of Ankara, to resume

the talks that he abandoned a year ago, despite the

official invitation extended by the Secretary-General in

September, is particularly disturbing.

The Secretary-General is now trying to invigorate

the process of negotiation. Therefore, in order to

facilitate the Secretary-General’s effort, I will refrain

from making remarks that normally I would have

made, other than to identify the reason for the failure to

make progress, which is the lack of political will on the

part of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader,

Mr. Denktash.

The Turkish side has abandoned the concept of a

bi-zonal, bi-communal federal Cyprus, which Security

Council resolutions have provided as the basis for the

solution. The Turkish side is also calling the

international community to accept the so-called

realities, which is the legalization of Turkey’s

occupation of 37 per cent of Cypriot territory, in breach

of international law, the forceful expulsion of Greek

Cypriot refugees from the occupied area and the

subsequent importation of 120,000 settlers from

mainland Turkey in an effort to change the

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demographic character of Cyprus. As is well known,

the international community, through a plethora of

United Nations resolutions, has repeatedly rejected this

policy. Acceptance of these so-called realities would

create a very dangerous precedent in international

affairs, striking at the very heart of the cherished

principles of State sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I would like to refer to the purely humanitarian

problem of missing persons, the resolution of which

remains one of the most pressing issues for the

Government of the Republic of Cyprus and for all

Cypriots.

Unfortunately, Mr. President, I must once again

report to you that the agreement on missing persons of

31 July 1997 between Mr. Rauf Denktash and myself,

providing for the exchange of information and for

information on the location of graves of Greek Cypriot

and Turkish Cypriot missing persons, has not been

implemented because of the continuing negative

attitude of the Turkish side. We appeal again to the

Government of Turkey to show the necessary political

will in order to bring a final solution to this tragic

humanitarian issue and abide by the l0 May 2001

judgement of the European Court of Human Rights.

In the face of current difficulties, we do not

despair. Our vision for Cyprus is a departure from the

passions of the past. History is often described as the

best teacher of wise men. We see as the future of our

country: a reunited federal State, member of the

European Union, with human and other rights of each

and every citizen fully protected under the process of

democracy and the rule of law. We see a State with a

single citizenship, sovereignty and international

personality, a demilitarized State enjoying the fruits of

its labours in the wider European family, while at the

same time playing its rightful role in our immediate

region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

I recommend to the leadership of Turkey that it

abandon its threats to annex the occupied part of

Cyprus. I urge them to consider the obvious advantages

of the solution of the Cyprus problem for stability in

our region, the consolidation of the Greco-Turkish

rapprochement and the promotion of Turkey’s

aspirations to join the process of European integration.

I urge the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash,

to join me in sharing the vision of a Cyprus too small

to be divided but huge for the common prosperity of all

its inhabitants. I urge him to look to the future and not

to the past, to listen to the increasingly desperate

voices of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and stop

placing obstacles, at each turn, to the good offices of

the Secretary-General for a solution to the Cyprus

problem.

It is noteworthy that the economic prospects for a

post-settlement Cyprus are truly impressive. This

growth will be even greater for our Turkish Cypriot

compatriots, who are currently suffering because of the

dire political and economic situation in the occupied

area. Tragically, almost 50 per cent have been forced to

take the cruel road of emigration. The Turkish Cypriots

will benefit considerably from the accession of our

country to the European Union.

I urge Mr. Denktash to realize that he and I are

not getting any younger and that we owe it to the

younger generations of Cypriots to do away with the

walls of division. For my part, I reiterate my readiness

to engage in the process of negotiations with the

necessary political will and good faith for finding a fair

and viable solution based on the United Nations

resolutions, meeting the legitimate interests of all

Cypriots.