Cyprus, 2004

I wish, Sir, to express

to you my most sincere congratulations on your

election as President of this session of the General

Assembly and to wish you every success in steering the

work of this body. I would also like to extend our

thanks and appreciation to the President of the fifty-

eighth session of the General Assembly, especially for

his inspired efforts to promote so vigorously the

agenda of United Nations reform and the revitalization

of the General Assembly.

As this is the last session of the General Assembly

before the 2005 major event, we must proceed to evaluate

the prospects for attaining the ambitious targets we set

at the turn of the millennium. The major event will be

the first real assessment of our progress towards the

implementation of the Millennium Declaration, of the

outcomes of major world conferences and of initiatives

such as the action launched by the Presidents of Brazil,

France and Chile and the Prime Minister of Spain to

eradicate poverty and hunger, and the initiative of the

Presidents of Finland and Tanzania on the social

dimensions of globalization.

Specifically with regard to the Millennium

Development Goals, we believe that the ability to make

development on the ground an issue of global concern

as a result of those pledges will be a measure of the

ability of the United Nations to induce significant

change and advances where they are most needed.

The Republic of Cyprus supports the

strengthening of the United Nations system through the

reform process that is under way and looks forward to

the report of the High-Level Panel on Threats,

Challenges and Change and the recommendations of

the Secretary-General. We attach particular importance

to the revitalization of the General Assembly and to the

reform of the Security Council so that its structure will

reflect contemporary political realities and a more

balanced geographical representation. In the spirit of

those two principles, and with the aim of reinforcing

the legitimacy and efficacy of the Council, Cyprus is

supportive of increasing both the permanent and the

non-permanent membership. In that respect, we believe

that the joint French and German position on the

enlargement of the Council could provide a basis for

achieving the aforementioned objectives.

We share the assessment of the Secretary-General

that consolidating effective multilateralism in a flexible

and versatile United Nations is the best way to address

the complete spectrum of global crises and ensure that

preventive mechanisms exist to avert such crises. Such

consolidation applies also to security deficits and

particularly terrorism, whose underlying causes we

have been unable to eliminate despite our concerted

efforts. We consider that the conclusion of a

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comprehensive United Nations convention against

terrorism is important in order to address more

resolutely, within the framework of international

legality, the threat posed by terrorism.

Addressing other deficiencies in the international

system — particularly those that give rise to crisis

situations and to humanitarian disasters — should also

be considered a matter of both urgency and priority.

One such crisis is Darfur, which, following many

others like it, keeps Africa at the heart of our concerns.

It demonstrates not only why we should focus the

majority of our humanitarian resources and

peacekeeping efforts on Africa, but also why we should

undertake every possible effort to make sustainable

development a global reality.

The Middle East is another region that remains

volatile, despite growing global concern and despite

many attempts to restore the peace process in the

Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We deem to be necessary

more active involvement by the Quartet in the efforts

to implement the road map and put an end to the cycle

of violence. More emphasis should also be placed on

the task of improving living conditions in order to

normalize people’s lives to the greatest possible extent.

Our support remains focused on ending the occupation,

achieving a just and viable settlement based on United

Nations resolutions, and the realization of the

Palestinian people’s aspirations for the establishment

of an independent State, living side by side with Israel

in conditions of sustainable peace and security.

The aspirations of humanity revolve around the

achievement of full respect for human rights,

democracy and the rule of law. The collective vision

and effort required to fulfil that massive endeavour

demands the contribution of all, to the extent of their

capabilities. Cyprus is prepared to play its part from its

vantage point in the European Union, while drawing

upon its traditional participation in forums dedicated to

promoting agendas pertaining to those values. That

affiliation has been a source of support for us since

Cyprus’s independence, and its impact not only makes

us grateful but also has endowed us with sensitivities

that will continue to be an integral part of our

approach.

I would like to emphasize how proud we are that

Cyprus is now a member of the European Union. The

Union has outlined an extensive set of priorities for

this session of the General Assembly. As the statement

delivered Tuesday by the Dutch presidency has

delineated those priorities, I will not elaborate on them

any further.

This year marks 30 years since the occupation of

37 per cent of Cyprus’s territory as a result of the

invasion of the island by Turkish troops. It also marks

30 years of relentless efforts by the Greek Cypriots to

achieve a just and peaceful settlement, with the support

of the international community, for which I would here

like to express our deep appreciation.

The Secretary-General’s most recent effort to

solve the Cyprus problem resulted in a plan that was

described by some as a historic opportunity to solve

one of the most long-standing international problems. I

will outline only briefly why, despite the hard work

invested in the process by everyone involved, the end

product of that effort was judged to have been

inadequate and to have fallen short of minimum

expectations for a settlement for Greek Cypriots.

First, the Annan Plan was not the product of

negotiation, nor did it constitute an agreed solution

between the parties. Secondly, the Plan did not place

the necessary emphasis on achieving a one-State

solution with a central Government able to guarantee

the single, sovereign character of Cyprus. Thirdly, it

failed to address the serious concerns of the Greek

Cypriot community regarding their security and the

effective implementation of the Plan.

In rejecting the Plan as a settlement for the

Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriots did not reject the

solution or the reunification of their country; they

rejected this particular Plan as not effectively

achieving that objective. We remain committed to a

solution that will ensure the reunification of our

country, its economy and its people.

We are committed to reaching a solution on the

basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. There are,

however, a number of essential parameters on which

the Greek Cypriot community insists such a solution

must be founded: the withdrawal of Turkish troops and

settlers and respect for the human rights of all

Cypriots, the underlying structures for a functioning

economy, the functionality and workability of the new

state of affairs, the just resolution of land and property

issues in accordance with the decisions of the

European Court of Human Rights, and respect for the

right of return of refugees. To that end, we welcome

the recent Pinheiro progress report on the restitution of

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property in the context of the return of refugees and

internally displaced persons. Simultaneously, it distresses

me to bring to the attention of the Assembly that

certain provisions of the Annan Plan have encouraged

the unprecedented unlawful exploitation of properties

in occupied Cyprus that belong to Greek Cypriots.

The most paramount feature of any settlement is

the ability to instil a sense of security among the

people. In that regard, the mistakes of the past must not

be repeated. Cyprus must, in its future course, proceed

without any grey areas with regard to its sovereignty or

its relations with third-party States. If the people feel that

their needs have not formed the basis of any solution that

has been reached or that the characteristics of that

solution have been dictated by the interests of third

parties, then that solution will, unsurprisingly, be

rejected. Indeed, in spirit and in practice, effective

multilateralism not only encompasses but also derives

from the comprehension and consideration of local

realities and particulars, on which it must then proceed

to formulate proposals.

In the framework of the European Union, and

with the aim of promoting reunification and

reconciliation, my Government — despite the obstacles

created by the current status quo — is consistently

pursuing policies aimed at enhancing the economic

development of the Turkish Cypriots. We believe that

such policies, while not intended to serve as a

substitute for a solution, are the most effective way to

foster maximum economic integration of the two

communities and to increase contact between them, so

as to ensure the viability of a future solution.

The Cyprus problem is not always perceived in

its correct context. The fact remains that this problem

is the result of a military invasion and of the continued

occupation of part of the territory of a sovereign State.

That fact should not be conveniently overlooked by

concentrating on peripheral matters. Any initiative to

solve the problem must have at its core that most basic

and fundamental fact and must be based on the premise

that international legality must be served and the

occupation ended.

Unfortunately, the fundamentals of the situation

on the ground have remained unchanged for the past 30

years, since the Turkish invasion in Cyprus. That

situation comprises severe violations of the most

fundamental human rights. The still-unresolved issue of

missing persons — an issue of a purely humanitarian

nature — and that of the enclaved of the Karpass

peninsula are in themselves an indication of the

enduring suffering of Cyprus. That not only should

point us towards the specifics of the solution to be

pursued, but also must guide our actions with regard to

managing the status quo. For instance, the United

Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP),

assigned the task of managing the status quo inflicted

30 years ago, should remain specific to the situation on

the ground.

The accession of Cyprus to the European Union,

in conjunction with the lack of an agreement aimed at

settling the Cyprus problem — despite our efforts and

our preference for a settlement prior to accession —

signifies the end of one era and the beginning of a new

one.

I firmly believe that the new context defined by

the accession of my country to the European Union and

by the expressed will of Turkey to advance on the

European path offers a unique opportunity and could

have a catalytic effect in reaching a settlement in

Cyprus. Our vocation is to be partners, not enemies.

Hence, in this new era, we call upon Turkey to join

us in turning the page and in seeking ways to discover

mutually beneficial solutions to the various aspects that

compose the Cyprus problem. The mere realization that

peace and stability in our region serve the interests of

both our countries is ample evidence to prove that what

unites us is stronger than what divides us.