Accusations of Selective Sovereignty
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, directly challenging Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent remarks on international law. Christodoulides accused Erdogan of demonstrating “hypocrisy of the highest form” regarding the situation in Cyprus.
Christodoulides stated that Turkey was acting in Cyprus in the exact opposite manner of the principles Erdogan had invoked during his own address, specifically citing references to international law, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, illegal occupation, and refugees. The Cypriot president argued that these concepts cannot be applied selectively.
“Mr. Erdogan, if you want to quote from the Charter, you must first apply it,” Christodoulides said, referencing the UN Charter. He added that politicians are judged by their deeds rather than their words. Christodoulides warned that upholding UN resolutions in one case while ignoring them in another damages the credibility of the international system.
Conditions for Resuming Talks
During his address, Christodoulides expressed readiness to resume negotiations within the UN framework from where they left off in 2017. He called on Erdogan to authorize substantive talks aimed at a comprehensive settlement.
The president described a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality as the only viable basis for such a resolution. He cited Security Council resolutions, international law, and European Union principles as common ground for any future agreement.
Details of Occupation and Humanitarian Record
Christodoulides provided specific details regarding the ongoing situation in Cyprus, noting that more than a third of the Republic’s territory remains under Turkish occupation 52 years after the illegal invasion. He stated that tens of thousands of displaced people have been prevented from returning home and that Varosha remains sealed off.
The president cited human rights violations, the destruction of religious and cultural heritage, and the organized transfer of settlers resulting in demographic change. He also highlighted unresolved cases involving relatives of missing persons.
Cyprus as a Humanitarian Actor
Shifting focus to Cyprus’s role in the international community, Christodoulides described the island nation as an active member contributing to crisis management and regional cooperation. “We cannot compel. But we can coalesce,” he stated.
Christodoulides pointed to the Amalthea Maritime Humanitarian Corridor proposed after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack as a working humanitarian route delivered through cooperation with the UN2720 Mechanism. He stated that Cyprus has dedicated more than 25 percent of its humanitarian aid budget to Palestine and helped evacuate thousands of third-country nationals from 70 countries over the past three years.
Highlighting broader relief efforts, Christodoulides cited CyprusAid’s response to earthquakes in Venezuela and flash floods in Nepal, as well as resources directed to Sudan and the Sahel. He also noted the EU-backed Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station at Paphos Air Base as part of the country's contribution to regional stability.