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- Ελληνικά
The Deputy Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations (UN), Ms.Gabriella Michaelidou, made a national statement yesterday, 17 October 2023, during the general debate of the thematic section entitled "Promotion and Protection of Human Rights", in the context of the work of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.
In her intervention, Ms. Michaelidou stressed that it is the obligation of all states to reaffirm their commitment to the respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights as defined by the UN conventions. She added that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and there is no justification for their violation.
She also noted that on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the world is still far from the ideal level.
The Deputy Permanent Representative again raised the issue of violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Greek Cypriots as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion and the continued illegal occupation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. He noted that the Republic of Cyprus will continue to raise the issue of violations until they are fully remedied. Respect for international law, human rights law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter is not at the discretion of any state.
He recalled the displacement by the Turkish army of some 170,000 Greek Cypriots, who continue to be denied the right of return and peaceful enjoyment of their properties. Referring to the illegal exploitation and use of Greek Cypriot properties by Turkey, she underlined that this is an organized plan promoted by Turkey for the "Turkification" of the occupied part of Cyprus.
Ms. Michaelidou called on Turkey to stop the ongoing illegal exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied part, including their sale to Turkish settlers and foreigners. He recalled that according to the UN Principles on Housing and Rehabilitation of Property of Refugees and Displaced Persons, "all refugees and displaced persons have the right to restitution of housing and property arbitrarily or unlawfully taken away...".
He added that Turkey has implemented a methodical and deliberate plan to change the demographic character of the island and alter the population balance on the island by mass transferring thousands of Turkish settlers. This, she stressed, according to International Humanitarian Law, is a war crime aimed at eliminating the historical character of the island and prejudging the settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Ms. Michaelidou recalled the ongoing daily violations of the human rights of the stranded Greek Cypriots and Maronites living under Turkish occupation. The decrease in the number of interned persons in the occupied territories is the result of persistent oppression and discriminatory treatment on the basis of ethnic origin, race and religion.
She then referred to the looting and vandalism of the rich cultural heritage in the occupied part of Cyprus, including the desecration of more than 520 Orthodox, Armenian and Maronite churches. The Republic of Cyprus, she noted, recalls that the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is in violation of international law and international humanitarian law and a war crime under the Rome Statute.
The Deputy Permanent Representative raised the major humanitarian issue of the missing persons and called on Turkey to provide information on their fate from military records, including information on the deliberate removal of remains. At the same time, Turkey should allow unhindered access for the Committee of Inquiry on Missing Persons in Cyprus to all military sites.
With regard to Varosha, he recalled the Presidential Statements of the Security Council and all relevant resolutions, including resolution 2674/2023, which deeply regretted the fact that unilateral actions continued and that the Security Council's calls for their immediate reversal were being ignored. Unfortunately, he added, Turkey continues on the same course in complete defiance of the above. This is Turkey's deliberate policy to undermine the resumption of negotiations and the achievement of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as defined by Security Council resolutions.
Finally, the Deputy Permanent Representative stressed that the current status quo affects the rights of all Cypriots. The Government of Cyprus will continue to protect and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, regardless of ethnic origin, race, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability. Our hope, she said, is that this will soon be done in the context of a reunited country.
For the full text of the Deputy Permanent Representative's intervention in English click here.
(NΓ)
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