Chairman of the US Senate External Relations Committee, Robert Menendez, was awarded on Friday the title of honorary citizen of the city of Pafos and presented with the key to the city, during a special ceremony that took place at Pafos Town Hall, in the presence of officials and many other people.
Speaking during the ceremony, Menendez said he was deeply honored that he became an honorary citizen of Pafos,”the historic city of Aphrodite, Archibishop Makarios, Saint Paul and the Supreme President of AHEPA, Savvas Tsivikos.”
He referred to the rich history of Pafos, noting that ‘this is of the main reasons that I fight against the invasion and occupation of Turkey.’
He stressed that ’49 years is too long’, ‘it is time for the occupation to end” and “for the last boot of the last Turkish soldier to leave Cyprus.”
“I look forward to coming back with my wife when we celebrate that last boot of the last Turkish soldier leaving Cyprus,” he added noted that “what happened in Pyla must be condemned as a violation of international law. If we allow Pyla to take place then what is next?,” Menendez wondered.
This is why, he added, that “I have called for a condemnation by the UN Security Council of what happened in Pyla as it is, a violation of international law.”
He noted that “we must call it what it is, not look the other way”, while referring to the war in Ukraine, he said that he is one of those who have supported the proposition that the help for Ukraine is not for the freedom of Ukraine ‘but for upholding the international proposition that you cannot by force take another country’s territory.’
Menendez also expressed the belief the UN must appoint a special envoy to reignite and reinvigorate the negotiations on the Cyprus problem and that the US must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Cypriot Republic in that effort.
The US Senator also saluted the operation of the American University of Beirut-Mediterraneo to Paphos ‘because education is the cornerstone of prosperity, of progress, of understanding between people,’ as he said
He noted that Pafos is going to be a great center of learning which not only will attract Cypriots but it will attract people from the entire region and as it builds its reputation from other parts of the world.
“You are going to be a university city that will be known beyond your borders and that will be a great accomplishment that brings Pafos into this new century with hope and promise and opportunity,” Menendez said.
On his part, addressing Senator Menendez, the Mayor of Pafos, Phedonas Phedonos, underlined that the honoree with his daily actions, initiatives and interventions, proves and sends the hopeful message that in the complex system of international relations with conflicting geopolitical and other interests, it remains possible to serve the legitimate interests of peoples and states through a foreign polity based on democracy and the rule of international law.
Continuing he referred to the common bonds that unite the American and Greek nation, emphasizing the fact that the American Founding Fathers were inspired and guided by the ancient Greek civilization and particularly by the golden age of Pericle’s Athens.
Referring to the problems facing the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East, Phedonos indicated that the reason why peace, security, cooperation and prosperity do not prevail in a region with such a great cultural heritage is the fact that chronic oppositions and differences created over the century’s fanaticism and extremes, blockades and bloody conflicts
The Mayor emphasized that “we want, we can and we must serve a model that, through high-level education and training, will create the conditions for democracy, peace, development and prosperity to prevail in our region.”
He then continued by pointing out that the United States of America is the only county that has the strength and moral authority to exert pressure on Turkey towards the prevalence of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Without Turkey’s transformation into a modern democratic state, respecting the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all its citizens without discrimination, as well as the international legal order, our region can never enjoy security, stability and real peace, he noted.
The Municipal Council of Pafos has said that the reasoning behind its decision to bestow the honors to Mendenez, is his long-standing, tireless action, in defending, promoting and establishing respect for the international law, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law as principles of universal standing.
It is the expression of the Pafos citizens gratitude for his steadfast, unwavering support towards efforts at ending the Turkish occupation of Cyprus and restoring fundamental human rights and freedoms for all Cypriots through a viable, workable settlement of the Cyprus issue that will reunite the country and its people, the Council said.
It also pointed out that at a crucial juncture for humanity, he constitutes a shining example of an inspired politician. One that with his words and action provides support of the weak against the strong and strengthens faith of justice in all its forms.
The Council’s decision concludes with the recognition of the fact that Senator Menendez, with his actions for the defence of matters and interests of Hellenism, emerged as a true Philhellene worthy of the gratitude, respect and deep appreciation of Hellenes around the world.
Before the ceremony, the Mayor of Paphos gave Senator Menendez a tour of the new – under construction campus of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo, which will start operating in Pafos in the coming days.
In his statements on the sidelines of the visit, the Mayor of Paphos emphasized the importance of the operation in the city of Pafos of a University Institution with the prestige and reputation of AUB, pointing out that this is an event of multiple importance for the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean .
Members of the UN Security Council condemned on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, the incidents in the buffer zone, in the village of Pyla, in Larnaca district, with assaults against UN peacekeepers, reiterating their full support for UNFICYP
They also condemned the attacks on UN peacekeepers and the damage to UN vehicles by Turkish Cypriot personnel and wished a speedy and full recovery to the peacekeepers who were injured. They emphasized that “attacks against peacekeepers may constitute crimes under international law and reaffirmed their full commitment to the safety of all UN personnel.”
On Friday August 18, 2023, Turkish Cypriots punched and kicked a group of international peacekeepers who obstructed crews illegally working on a road that would encroach on a U.N. controlled buffer zone.
The attack happened as peacekeepers stood in the way of work crews building a road to connect the Turkish occupied village of Arsos with the mixed Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot village of Pyla, inside the buffer zone.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency