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- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic, Mr.Nikos Christodoulides, addressed the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York today, 20 September 2023, at 4:30 pm Cyprus time.
In his address, President Christodoulides said, inter alia, that: "As President of Cyprus, I believe in peaceful coexistence because, although I grew up in a divided country, I also grew up in a country full of hope for reunification, with stories of all Cypriots living together in peace, united by the land they share."
Addressing Turkish Cypriots he said : "My message from this platform to my Turkish Cypriot compatriots, to all Cypriots, is that I hear their call for peace, I understand their concerns and I assure them that I will make every effort to make our common dream of reunification and peace on our island a reality. And I want to be able to tell them that the world, the United Nations, the living words of the United Nations Charter, are also hearing their call for peace."
Elsewhere in his speech, President Christodoulides noted that the United Nations and the Secretary-General have a responsibility, as set out in the United Nations Charter, to act as a catalyst for peace in Cyprus. "This effort can be supported by the European Union, which also has the necessary tools and has expressed its commitment to help reunite the last divided member state. Like the United Nations, the European Union is also a peace-promoting organization," he added.
President Christodoulides, speaking of the importance of peace prevailing, noted: "I am before you today asking all of us to work together for peace. This is not something new, nor is it groundbreaking. But it can change the world and we must remind ourselves, every day, that we can and it is our responsibility to achieve it."
He added: "Working for peace in Cyprus is my absolute priority and I want to take this opportunity to send a personal message to President Erdogan."
There is, and never will be, no other basis for the settlement of the Cyprus issue than that dictated by United Nations Security Council resolutions. The illegality resulting from the invasion, the aggression and the use of force cannot be recognised."
Finally, the President of the Republic said that Cyprus and Turkey are neighbours, linked by their geographical position. "Peace in Cyprus will not only send a resounding message of peace to a region and a world that desperately needs it. It will also change the geopolitical map of our region, with implications for Europe, the wider Eastern Mediterranean and EU-Turkey relations. Arms diplomacy and scare tactics are a thing of the past. These are not the tools used by leaders with vision. This is our moment to bring the UN Charter to life, a charter for peace for all," concluded President Christodoulides.
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