Your Excellency Mr.President,
Thank you very much for your shocking testimony.Cyprus, like Ukraine, is a victim of invasion and occupation by a stronger neighbouring country. In 1974, Turkey, which was also a guarantor power, invaded Cyprus on grounds incompatible with the established principles of international law and international legitimacy, as Russia does today, and has since then occupied 37% of the territory of our country, a European territory. For more than 47 years, we have been experiencing the painful consequences of Turkey's flagrant violations of the principles of international law and basic human rights and we are witnessing every day new facts both on the territory and in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of Turkey's wider expansionist plans.
Mr President,
You referred yesterday to Turkey's breach of promises. What I want to stress is that international history offers us lessons that we must take seriously.
And it is precisely the status of the guarantor power in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, which was the pretext for the Turkish invasion. As if the invasion and violation of the territorial integrity of a state could be justified in any way. Ukraine, therefore, like Cyprus, has the right to be a normal, modern European state, without anachronistic guarantees from third countries, which, moreover, is not in keeping with the civilisation of the 21st century. It has the right to choose the future it wants for the benefit of its people.
I would therefore like to assure you that Cyprus, just like the rest of our partners in the EU, remains firmly committed to implementing the sanctions that we as the European Union have imposed on Russia, with the aim of changing its behaviour and ending the invasion of your country.
Because a firm commitment to firm principles of international law, to European principles and values and to respect for human rights is a matter of survival for all of us.
The logic of double standards and selective tolerance, and I am referring in particular to Turkey, both with regard to the flagrant violations of international law in Cyprus and elsewhere and the non-implementation of sanctions against Russia, is not only self-serving. It undermines the intended impact of the sanctions, insulting the entire international community and calling into question its resolve and credibility.
Your Excellency, Mr President,
Cyprus knows what war and refugees mean, since as a country we still have tens of thousands of refugees and hundreds of missing persons due to Turkish atrocities. It is for this reason that the response of Cypriots to the need for support and relief for the people of Ukraine has been immediate and unprecedented. The humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Ukraine continues and is the largest ever offered by our country. Cyprus has embraced the refugees from Ukraine, providing them with temporary protection status and all related rights, despite the challenges and difficulties they face.
Mr President, I conclude by assuring you that Cyprus will remain committed to the positions of principles and values which are fully in line with the principles of international law and international legitimacy and in this context will continue to provide all possible assistance and support to the friendly Ukrainian people. I wish the obvious. That respect for international law and dialogue prevail and that peace and stability are soon restored, giving back to our peoples the hope for a bright and creative future.
I wish and hope that this will also be true for my own country, which is still semi-occupied, divided and unjust.
Thank you for your presence and for this communication.
(IK)
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