New York: Under no circumstances should anyone accept that the “rule of force” will prevail in the Cyprus problem, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Theodoros Roussopoulos, stated during his visit to New York. He attended the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and held a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, as reported by CNA on Wednesday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Cyprus problem was among several topics discussed during the meeting. Roussopoulos emphasized to the Secretary General that “organisations like the UN and the Council of Europe are there to impose the rule of law and not the rule of force.” This sentiment underscores the ongoing commitment to resolving the Cyprus issue through legal and diplomatic means rather than through unilateral force.
Roussopoulos expressed his pleasure in meeting Mr. Guterres for the second time. Their discussion primarily focused on enhancing cooperation between the Council of Europe and the United Nations, which share a long-standing relationship. Roussopoulos conveyed to the Secretary-General the concerns related to the Cyprus problem, highlighting that “Cyprus is our member.” He clarified that his attention to the issue is not due to his Greek nationality but because the UN is pivotal in resolving the Cyprus problem.
He acknowledged the challenges in maintaining optimism after decades of talks, urging the management of expectations. Roussopoulos expressed his concern over a growing global belief that the strongest entities impose their will, which he linked to broader international issues, including the Cyprus problem.
Roussopoulos remarked that the UN and the Council of Europe must champion the rule of law, expressing concerns over military forces’ influence, notably Turkey and the US, on the Cyprus issue resolution. He firmly stated, “under no circumstances should anyone accept – and we certainly do not accept it in the Council of Europe, but also as Greeks – that the rule of force will prevail.”
Additionally, Roussopoulos discussed the Cyprus issue with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Rosemary DiCarlo. DiCarlo recounted her recent engagements in Cyprus and assured continued efforts to find a just solution.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the northern third. Repeated UN-led peace talks have yet to produce a resolution due to persistent Turkish intransigence. The last negotiation attempt in July 2017 at Crans-Montana ended without a conclusion. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced an expanded meeting in Geneva to discuss ways of achieving progress on the Cyprus issue with key stakeholders, including representatives from Greece, Turkey, and the UK.