Cyprus, 2002

I would like, Sir, to

extend to you my warmest congratulations on your

election as President of the fifty-seventh session of the

General Assembly. I have no doubt that your long

experience and proven diplomatic skills will

successfully steer the work of this session. I would also

like to extend my appreciation to your predecessor, His

Excellency Mr. Han Seung-soo, for his effective and

determined guidance during the work of the fifty-sixth

session.

Cyprus joins other States in extending a warm

welcome to the newest Member of the United Nations,

Switzerland, and we look forward also to welcoming

East Timor.

The opening of this session coincides with a time

of overwhelming challenges for the international

community. The fact that the global problems are so

numerous demands a determined and collective

response and necessitates the enhancement of the role

of the United Nations as the leading mechanism in

securing world peace and stability.

Cyprus would like to reaffirm its strong devotion

to the United Nations and its commitment to the cause

of international cooperation and multilateralism, so

eloquently advocated and defended in the Secretary-

General's statement to the General Assembly on 12

September 2002.

It is our firm belief that the international

community should act in accordance with the

principles of the United Nations Charter and that all

United Nations resolutions should be implemented.

Such an approach will not only enhance the credibility

of the Organization, but will also facilitate the

achievement of permanent solutions based on

objectivity, justice and international law.

In the case of Cyprus, numerous resolutions of

the General Assembly and the Security Council have

yet to be implemented. Contrary to its obligations

under the Charter, Turkey shows its defiance by calling

for the acceptance of the so-called realities brought

about by its aggression. Twenty-eight years have

passed since the tragic summer of 1974, and the people

of Cyprus, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,

are still suffering from the terrible consequences of the

Turkish invasion and the continuing military

occupation of 37 per cent of the Republic's territory.

The Government of Cyprus, however, does not

want to engage in polemics with Turkey. On the

contrary, we believe that we should move beyond

confrontation towards a common future of prosperity,

democracy and regional cooperation. In this respect,

both sides should seize the moment and take advantage

of the current window of opportunity for the

achievement of a just and viable settlement of the

Cyprus problem, based on Security Council

resolutions, which represent the verdict of the

international community and its collective wisdom.

The time to engage in a serious, meaningful

dialogue is now, given the unique convergence of

positive factors, including the renewed interest of the

international community, the personal involvement and

commitment of the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan,

to whom we express our appreciation, and the

European Union accession process for Cyprus.

Regrettably, the international community has yet

to see the greatly anticipated change of attitude on the

Turkish side. The Security Council, in its statement of

9 July, authoritatively declared that

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“the Turkish Cypriot side had been less

constructive in its approach so far, and had

declined to support the goal of resolving the core

issues”. (Press Release SC/7444)

The Council also strongly underscored the need

for the Turkish side to cooperate fully in the ongoing

effort for a comprehensive settlement, taking into full

consideration the relevant Security Council resolutions

and treaties.

We invite Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot

leadership to heed the call of the international

community and abandon its unacceptable policy of

division and communal segregation. Their position in

favour of a “two sovereign States” solution and of the

denial of the rights of refugees to their property

represents an anachronism in a globalized world — a

world in which we view diversity as an enrichment and

are bound together by integration, the quest for

democracy and the rule of law. Most importantly, such

a policy cannot lead to a settlement or to reconciliation,

and would thus perpetuate the suffering and the plight

of all Cypriots. We call on the Turkish side to respect

Security Council resolutions, and the high-level

agreements signed by Mr. Denktash himself, which

provide for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation and

which envision a State with a single sovereignty, single

citizenship and a single international character.

In keeping with the interests of our people and

with the need for regional stability, our vision for

Cyprus represents a departure from the passions of the

past. We see the future of our country in a reunited

federal State, with membership in the European Union

and with the human rights and fundamental freedoms

of each and every citizen fully protected. We are aware

that the overwhelming majority of Turkish Cypriots

share this vision and long for reunification and for a

common future in the European Union, with all the

safeguards of a modern, democratic and effective State.

They know that the accession of Cyprus would offer to

all its citizens security and social and economic

advancement, especially for the Turkish Cypriot

community.

As for our side, President Clerides, who has been

participating in the talks in a constructive and positive

manner, thereby earning the respect of the international

community, will continue to show determination and

farsightedness so as to fully safeguard the interests of

Cyprus and its people.

One year has passed since the heinous attacks of

11 September, which dramatically changed the

international political climate. The immediate actions

of the United Nations in the aftermath of the attacks

reaffirmed the strong determination of the international

community to counteract the global threat of terrorism,

which transcends geographical regions and religions.

Cyprus believes in the necessity of global

mobilization and collective action against terrorism,

under the auspices of the United Nations. It has

become evident that in the fight against terrorism, the

importance of an individual country is not related to its

size or its geographic location. Every State has a vital

contribution to make in the struggle to combat this

threat to our common values. The Government of the

Republic of Cyprus reaffirms its commitment to this

struggle through full implementation of all relevant

international conventions and protocols relating to

terrorism, as well as of Security Council resolutions.

Our determination has been explicitly stated at the

highest level and through our ratification of all 12 of

the international conventions and protocols pertaining

to international terrorism.

Two recent international events deserve special

mention, since they have created a momentum for

international cooperation on issues of a political,

economic, environmental and legal nature. The first

session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome

Statute was a veritable landmark in combating

impunity and deterring genocide, war crimes, crimes

against humanity and aggression.

On the other hand, the World Summit on

Sustainable Development reaffirmed the necessity for

coordinated and effective international action in the

form of a joint effort to overcome the challenges of

economic disparity and environmental degradation. It

is now imperative to achieve the effective

implementation of all the commitments that have been

undertaken. Turning a blind eye to nature's warnings

will exacerbate the problem and make their

consequences for the global ecosystem irreversible.

Cyprus also reiterates the need for joint efforts to

implement the Millennium Development Goals and the

Monterrey Consensus. Moreover, my country attaches

particular importance to strengthening the New

Partnership for Africa's Development, which represents

a viable opportunity for the African continent to escape

marginalization and underdevelopment.

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The situation in the Middle East remains fragile;

its repercussions could seriously threaten stability far

beyond the region. Cyprus, as a neighbouring State

with close relations to the parties involved, supports all

initiatives aimed at achieving a just settlement, based

on international law and United Nations resolutions,

including the efforts of the Quartet. Such a settlement

would lead to both peace and stability and would

ensure normal relations and security for all the

countries of the region. It would also have to include

the fulfilment of the inalienable rights of the

Palestinian people through the creation of their own

State and the termination of occupation. Most

importantly, it would put an end to violence and

reinforce the voices of moderation and cooperation. We

reiterate our condemnation of all acts of terror,

including suicide bombings. As in the past, we stand

ready to assist the parties in any way they feel that we

can contribute, including by hosting meetings on the

island.

Cyprus attaches great importance to the role of

the United Nations in the field of disarmament. It will

therefore continue to support international action aimed

at strengthening multilateral instruments on

disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of

mass destruction. In this spirit, I wish to inform the

Assembly that the Government of the Republic of

Cyprus has recently proceeded, in cooperation with the

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, with the

destruction of a significant number of weapons and has

decided unilaterally to demine the buffer zone.

Moreover, Cyprus is in the final stage of ratifying the

Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines.

The general debate of this session is nearing its

end. The distinct focus of this session has been the

galvanization of world opinion with respect to the

necessity of implementing United Nations resolutions.

Cyprus has long been advocating respect for all United

Nations resolutions, without double standards or

exceptions. We are convinced that this would bring us

closer to the shared vision of collective security, peace

and justice envisioned by the founding fathers of the

Organization.