The Ambassadors of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have expressed their stance of principles on the Cyprus issue in statements on the occasion of the 48th anniversary since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
A reunited Cyprus offers the best and stronger future for all its Cypriots, the US, UK and France told CN?. They underlined that division is not an option, expressing support to confidence building measures. The Russian Ambassador told CNA that Russia’s stance on the Cyprus issue is based on the same principles as almost 50 years ago, namely that efforts to impose ready-made solutions on the Cypriots from the outside are destructive for the Cypriot people themselves, while the Chinese Ambassador told CNA that the international community should step up efforts in urging parties concerned to abide by relevant UN resolutions, adding that the two communities need to hold fast to the gold key of dialogue and consultation.
The British High Commission, in its statement to CN? said “the UK remains resolutely committed to the goal of a united Cyprus, where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can live together in conditions of peace, prosperity and security”.
A guarantor of the Treaty of Guarantee, the UK said “we support a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem, based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality in accordance with UNSCRs”.
Speaking during the reception hosted on the occasion of the US Independence Day, US Ambassador Judith Garber said “it is our earnest hope your efforts will soon benefit a united Cyprus”.
The United States, she added, “continues to support efforts by the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, facilitated by the United Nations, to forge a just and lasting settlement that will reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation”.
We commend recent efforts to forge confidence building measures to improve the lives of Cypriots across the island, said Garber, adding “we hope these will bear fruit and bring all Cypriots closer together. We firmly believe a reunified island offers a better and stronger future for all Cypriots”.
Virginie Corteval, deputy head of mission of the French Embassy on behalf of Ambassador Grenet-Catalano, said she hoped the drama taking place in Ukraine “demonstrates that there is no time to waste to look for a lasting and viable peace in Cyprus”.
She said “frozen conflicts remain wounds to be healed and the status quo in Cyprus is hardly a status quo”. The situation is changing, and not necessarily for the better: from the questioning of international norms in Varosha to the looming threats in the Cypriot Economic Exclusive Zone, from the difficult economic conditions and restricted rights Turkish Cypriots are experiencing to the high levels of migrations taking place through the Green line.
No goal is unreachable provided there is will and trust, she said, adding that “France is ready to support any step in that direction, such as confidence building measures”.
Division is not an option and we remain convinced that a re-united, federal and European Cyprus, that is to say a solution within the UN parameters, is still achievable. We are appreciative of the United Nations’ tireless efforts in this regard, she concluded.
Russia’s stance on the Cyprus issue is based on the same principles as almost 50 years ago, namely that efforts to impose ready-made solutions on the Cypriots from the outside are destructive for the Cypriot people themselves, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Cyprus, Stanislav Osachi, told CNA, invited to make a statement on the anniversary of the Turkish invasion against Cyprus in 1974.
The Ambassador said that the Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation had the greatest contribution to the cause of maintaining the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
In his statement the Russian Ambassador underlines that the Soviet Union, long before the Turkish invasion, firmly and consistently took a stand against any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the island and in favor of preserving its territorial integrity.
He says that during the period of crisis in 1963-1964 and specifically in February 1964, the then Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, in a letter to the Prime Minister of Turkey Inonou, persistently warned the Turkish side to avoid any attempt for a military intervention against the Republic of Cyprus, while with a telegram to the President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, he wished him victory in the fight to preserve the country’s territorial integrity and independence.
During those difficult years for Cyprus, the Russian Ambassador notes, the Soviet Union extended a helping hand to the friendly people of Cyprus with deeds and adds that in October 1964 a contract was signed for the supply of Cyprus with the most modern at the time military armament, medicines and petroleum products.
He points out that half of the amount in the contract was provided as a free aid from the Soviet government to Cyprus, while the other half was to be repaid with a loan granted to Cyprus at a very low interest rate.
Going forward to 1974, the Ambassador notes that the USSR had condemned those who staged the coup, and then the Turkish occupation of part of the island’s territory.
He also notes that two days after the unconstitutional coup, on July 17, at the extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council, Moscow was categorically against the overthrow of the legitimate government of President Makarios.
He recalls that the Soviet government, in an official announcement, said that “the sovereign state regime and territorial integrity of Cyprus are being turned into an object of a cynical bazzar behind the back of the Cypriot people and against their vital interests”.
The Soviet Union, he notes, expressed a position against the idea of a federation on the island, a position that Turkey insisted on and it also maintained a firm stance regarding the status of the Varosha.
Furthermore, he says that on August 23, 1974, the USSR expressed its initiative to convene, within the framework of the UN, an International Conference with the aim of ensuring effective international guarantees of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. This idea still remains relevant even today.”
Concluding, the Russian Ambassador underlines that “the current stance of our country is based on the same principles as it was almost 50 years ago: the efforts to impose ready-made solutions on the Cypriots from outside are destructive for the Cypriot people themselves. It is clear that the Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation had the greatest contribution to the cause of maintaining the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus”.
Ambassador of China Liu Yantao told CNA that China closely follows the situation of the Cyprus Problem, adding that “we have consistently upheld an objective and just position, and supported Cyprus’ efforts in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, China will as always play a constructive role in facilitating a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus Problem based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in the framework of “Bi-zonal Bi-Communal Federation”.
Stressing that the state leaders of China and Cyprus have maintained regular communication on the Cyprus Problem, the Chinese Ambassador noted that his country “recognizes the positive efforts made by UNFICYP in maintaining peace and stability in Cyprus and facilitating the political process”.
“China steadfastly supports the mandate renewal of UNFICYP. China has been sending peacekeeping police officers to UNPOL since 2015, and made donations to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus in 2019 and 2022, respectively. China is ready to support and participate in the organization of cultural and people-to-people exchange activities between the Greek and Turkish Communities, in order for the two sides to boost mutual confidence and meet each other halfway”, he continued.
Ambassador Liu Yantao told CNA that the Cyprus Problem is like a mirror that reflects the past and present, and lights the way ahead.
“Today, in face of major changes in geopolitical landscape and a global pandemic unseen in a century as well as emerging international and regional security challenges, people around the world have a more-than-ever urgent need for safeguarding peace and stability and finding ways to solve development problems”.
He expressed the position that “the international community should step up efforts in urging parties concerned to abide by relevant UN resolutions. The Greek and Turkish Communities need to hold fast to the gold key of dialogue and consultation, promote mutual trust through dialogue, and reconciliation through cooperation, so as to genuinely resolve differences and seek the greatest common ground that meets the aspirations of the Cypriot people. This is a top priority for the international community in facilitating a settlement of the Cyprus Problem”.
Source: Cyprus News Agency