Cyprus’ Christodoulides Hits Back at Turkey in UN Address
President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides hit back at Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his address at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations on Wednesday.
Erdogan “pointed the finger at others, for crimes Turkey itself commits every single day,” Christodoulides said. “From this very podium yesterday [Tuesday], Mr Erdogan preached to the world on peace and accountability. He pointed the finger at others for crimes that Turkey itself commits every single day. That is selective sensitivity and hypocrisy of the highest form.”
Christodoulides said “the playbook of occupiers is always the same,” adding that “illegality cannot yield legality.”
Cyprus has proven time and again that it is a reliable, responsible actor, he said. “My call today [Wednesday] to Mr Erdogan is to join that path of responsibility: To end the occupation, through negotiations for a comprehensive settlement that will reunify Cyprus in a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality,” he maintained.
Christodoulides on parallels between Russia and Turkey
The President of Cyprus highlighted the parallels between the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island.
“We must act collectively against the aggressors, regardless of their identity. Appeasing the aggressor has never brought results. History clearly demonstrates this. Every time we turn a blind eye to the violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states anywhere in the world, we provide space and opportunity for the next aggressor. And this time it could be someone who borders your own country,” Christodoulides said, adding:
“In 2022, Russia invaded a sovereign state, Ukraine, in violation of the United Nations Charter. In 1974, Turkey invaded a sovereign state, Cyprus, in violation of the United Nations Charter. The violation is the same. The torture. The invasion and the occupation.”
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