Cyprus, 2014

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.