President Demetris Christofias denounced Tuesday the 1983 unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) by the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime, in the northern Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
Invited to give a message to the people of Cyprus, President Christofias recalled UN Security Council resolutions which have condemned the declaration of the self-styled regime and have called it void and null, asking for the international community to exert more pressure on Turkey in order to pave the way for Cyprus` reunification.
The illegal declaration followed the partition of the island after the Turkish military invaded Cyprus in 1974, occupying one third of its territory ever since.
“We condemn this secessionist act which is organized and implemented by Turkey. This act, which has been condemned unanimously by UNSC resolution 541, has not been respected so far by Turkey, nor has Turkey respected UNSC resolution 550 which followed when Ankara and the illegal regime exchanged so-called diplomatic missions a year after the UDI“, he stressed.
“We expect the international community to condemn in a stronger manner Turkey’s intransigence. We also expect pressure to be exerted on Turkey more effectively so that we reach an agreed solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of UNSC resolution 1251, which the UN Secretary General himself has repeatedly mentioned during our tripartite meetings“, he underlined.
Referring to UNSC resolution 1251, he said that the implementation of the provisions of the resolution will lead to an agreed solution that would enable the reunification of the state and its people.
“What we need is not the perpetuation of partition, but a reunified, free and democratic Cyprus, under a bizonal bicommunal federation“, he pointed out.
President Christofias noted that “last year we celebrated the anniversary of the completion of 50 years since the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus. But unfortunately, in those 50 years we have not had the chance to celebrate more pleasant anniversaries“.
On the contrary, he said, “we have dates which have caused us pain“.
The Cypriot President pointed out that such day was December of 1963 “because it was the beginning of events that led to the tragic partition of the Republic of Cyprus“.
Another tragic date, he added, was the 15th of July 1974 “of the fascist coup d’etat that was used by Turkey as an excuse for its invasion against Cyprus on the 20th of July with all tragic consequences which led to the de facto partition of the island“.
November 15 of 1983 is an anniversary which reminds us of the attempt to complete the crime that was carried out against Cyprus and its permanent partition.
He expressed the view that Cyprus was led “to this unfortunate situation because of the responsibilities of foreign powers, the expansionist policy of Turkey and of course the responsibilities of Cypriots, which were not few“.
Calling for unity in the domestic front, President Christofias said that this is of utmost importance if we are to address Turkey`s expansionist policy.
“Today we mark the anniversary of the declaration of the illegal state and I do believe that we need to receive not only lessons from the past but also to work for unity in the domestic front to address Turkish attempts to conclude the partition of Cyprus“, he underlined.
Concluding, he said that “I believe that unity is needed and is imperative, so that the struggle of the people of Cyprus for freedom and reunification is crowned with success“.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of its territory.
UN resolution 541 (1983) adopted by the Security Council on 18 November 1983 considers the declaration by the Turkish Cypriot authorities issued on 15 November 1983 to create an independent state in northern Cyprus, as incompatible with the 1960 Treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.
The UNSC, in its resolution deplores the declaration of the Turkish Cypriot authorities of the purported secession of part of the Republic of Cyprus, considers the declaration referred to above as legally invalid and calls for its withdrawal.
It also calls upon all states to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus, calls upon all states not to recognise any Cypriot state other than the Republic of Cyprus and calls upon all states and the two communities in Cyprus to refrain from any action which might exacerbate the situation.
UNSC resolution 550 (1984) reaffirms its resolution 541(1983) and calls for its urgent and effective implementation. It also condemns all secessionist actions, including the purported exchange of Ambassadors between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot Leadership, declares them illegal and invalid and calls for their immediate withdrawal.
UNSC resolution 550 reaffirms the call upon all states not to recognise the purported state in occupied Cyprus set up by secessionist acts and calls upon them not to facilitate or in any way assist this secessionist entity.
(source: cna)
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