President tells UN Assembly negotiations created new opportunity for all Cypriots

“Following the non-renewal of actions which violated the exercise by the Republic of Cyprus of its sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone, and the change in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, a window of opportunity opened that revived our hope that the new round of negotiations which resumed this past May will lead to the final settlement of the Cyprus problem,” President Anastasiades told the annual General Debate.

He also said that he hopes Mustafa Akinci, the Turkish Cypriot leader, would share similar political courage and provide a resolution for its people who “desire the solution of the Cyprus problem through a viable, lasting and functional settlement.”

He said that the settlement should ideally leave neither winners nor losers and should take into account the concerns of the two communities and respect the fundamental rights of all Cypriots and other factors which contribute to peaceful co-existence between all communities.

President Anastasiades cited progress on the new round of negotiations, but maintained that there are still a number of significant issues that need to see similar progress.

“It is with satisfaction that I can inform this august body that during this new negotiating round, progress has been achieved in a number of issues on almost all Chapters of the Cyprus problem," he said.

"However, on other substantive issues, there are significant differences that need to be resolved. Differences that, in order to be resolved, would also require Turkey’s active and determined contribution, considering that its occupation forces still remain in the northern part of our country,” he added.

The President also said that he was hopeful that the resolution of the Cyprus problem can be a towering achievement of what diplomacy and negotiations can yield.

“I strongly believe that reaching a solution on the Cyprus problem can become a paradigm of how diplomacy and the adoption of a reconciliatory stance can contribute to the resolution of even the most difficult international issues, prevailing over mistrust,” added President Anastasiades.

President Anastasiades is among the many leaders who will address the general debate of 70th General Assembly which opened this year with the adoption of Agenda 2030 and 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Made up of all the 193 Member States of the UN, the Assembly provides a forum for multilateral discussion of international issues covered by the UN Charter.

Photo: UN Photo/Kim Haughton