A/31/PV.63 General Assembly

For the third year in a row the General Assembly meets to consider the question of Cyprus after its territory was militarily invaded in violation of all norms of international law. First of all, we must note that at this time when we are deliberating on this problem, no change hasoccurredin the situation despite the resolutions adopted by the Assembly and by the Security Council. 2. The troops of Turkey remain on Cyprus. They continue to occupy a major part of its territory and they are still violating the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, and causing untold suffering to its population. 3. The imperialist circles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization {NATOI are still intriguing against the inde- pendence of Cyprus, the territory of which they intend to use for their aggressive plans. There are foreign military bases and installations there, which are a vestige of the colonial past and are a threat to peace and security. 4. Some Western Powers wouldlike to imprison within the narrow framework of NATO all negotiations to solve the Cypriot problem so as to paralyse United Nations action and deprive Cyprus of the necessary international soli- darity. 5. In these circumstances, the question of Cyprus becomes an important test for our Organization. It becomes a severe challenge to its capacity to act effectively in fulfilment of the purposes and principles of our Charter, and accordingly must compel Member States to do everything within their power to find a swift and just solution. 6. One cannot remain impassive vis-a-vis the tragedy which afflicts the Cypriot people. We have no right to be content with reiterating, in a vague and general manner, support for certain principles and normswhich are universally accepted, when we know that they are ignored with obdurate persistence in regard to Cyprus. NEW Y \~ R K 7. It is high time for the Assembly and the Security Council to decide on the measures necessary to implement the resolutions which have been adopted earlier. To act otherwise would be to deny justice to the people of Cyprus and weaken the prestige of the Organization. S. The troops of Turkey must withdraw immediately, completely and unconditionally. The problem of the refugees must be solved urgently, and there must be an end to all action intended to change the population structure of the island. There must be an end to all forms of foreign interference so as to enable the people of Cyprus to solve by themselves the questions which are within their exclu- sive competence. Among these questions are those matters pertaining to intercommunal relations. 9. It is the obligation of every State to respect the independence, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus. It is totally inadmissible for some to try to disregard these attributes of a State Member of the UnitedNations. There are those who try to persuade us that certain norms of universal validity should not apply to the case of Cyprus. For them, when it comes to Cyprus, the use of force, armed intervention, the illegal occupation of the territoriesof an independent State and the undermining of its national sovereignty become legitimate. 10. Perhaps because it is a small country, discriminatory treatment is meted out to Cyprus, and attempts are made by coercion and violence to impose on it a totally anachronistic form of colonial trusteeship. 11. Cuba rejects that claim most energetically. For my delegation, it is an elementary question of principle that any policy or act which implies undermining the principles of the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention in a State's internalaffairsand respect for its territorialintegrity is totally intolerable. We cannot accept that these principles be applied in a selective and discriminatory manner. They are all valid and must apply to Cyprus as to any other sovereign and independent State. 12. The trials which Cyprus faces transcend its national frontiers and affect the interests of all independent States in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. For all .those States, it is essential that there be unqualified adherence to the principles of internationallaw, a strength- ening of the United Nations and compliance with the resolutions adopted by the Organization in defence of the right of a people who have been the victim of brutal aggression. 13. The principles and rules that are violated today in relation to Cyprus may tomorrow be ignored in the case of any of the States of the third world, and that is why the 15. These reasons explain Cuba's interest in this question and the unalterable position which my delegation has / maintained since the Assembly first considered it. However, there are still other reasons why the people of Cuba are particularly sensitive to the tragedy of Cyprus. Although we are geographically far apart, both peoples have had some similar experiences as a result of the imperialist policy of interference, threats and violence. Both countries have had to win independence by means of a long and hard struggle and have had to preserve it in a hostile environment, facing aggression and harassment by those who would try to subjugate us again. 16. From this flow the deep feelings of friendship which unite our peoples. That is why I would not wish to end my statement without reaffirming our complete solidarity with the people of Cyprus and with their sole legitimate Government, under the presidency of Archbishop Makarios. We are convinced that, despite all existing obstacles, and whatever the intrigues of imperialism, theirjust struggle will be crowned with victory.

For nearly 20 years the United Nations has been dealing on and off with the question of Cyprus. Yet the prospects for the settlement of the Cyprus problem remain as distant as ever. This small, beautiful island, throughno fault of its own,continues to remain one of the hotbeds of tension, especially since the disruptive conflict engulfed the island in July 1974. Nepal, like any other peace-loving country, is deeply concerned about the lack of genuine progress towards the achievement of a fair and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem. 18. Like my own country, Cyprus is c small and non- aligned nation. In all United Nations conferences, aswell as in other international conferences, we have expressed our full support and respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of the Repvblic of Cyprus. This conthiues to be our policy today. 19. Two years ago, the General Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 3212 (XXIX) which, in essence, con- tains the principal elements for a settlement of the Cyprus question. Although a number of the provisions of the resolution have been earried out, its main provisions, by and large, have remained unimplemented. As a result, a large part of the island continues to be occupied by foreign armed forces and a great number of refugees are still unable to return to their homes. 20. My delegation believes that resolution 3212 (XXIX) and resolution 3395 (XXX) still provide the best frame- work for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Therefore this world Organization should not only indicate its regret 21. My delegation also takesthis opportunity to state that any unilateral action or declaration which may violate the very spirit of the said resolutions, is totally unacceptable to us. Unilateral action will only further complicate the existing problem in Cyprus. 22. My delegation strongly believes that the Cypriot people belong to one and the same nation. Hence we cannot accept the notion of a State within a State. We further believe that nationalunity can be brought about by the people of Cyprus only. Thusthe Cypriot people should be left to themselves to settle their problems without foreign intervention or interference. And once thisnational unity is achieved, we are confident that the Cypriot people, of both Turkish and Greek origin, will not only live in peace and harmony, but will also work togetherwith the common purpose of rebuilding their shattered economy and country. 23. As of now, the Secretary-General, in spite of hisheavy schedule of work, has held five rounds of negotiations with the representatives of the two communities of Cyprus. It is indeed regrettable that these rounds of talks have yielded no practical results. In this respect, my delegation would like to appeal to the parties involved in the dispute, especially the two Cypriot communities, to show some signs of flexibility in their negotiations and also to respect fully and carryout the decisions reached in previous rounds of talks. In other words, moderation should prevail in the negotiations. Along with moderation, if there is goodwill and co-operation on the part of the parties concerned, the settlement of the Cyprus problem will no longer be a dream, but a reality. 24. The deplorable condition of the refugees constitutes one of the major problems of the Cyprus question. Although a little progress has been made in this matter, a majority of the refugees are still deprived of their posses- sions and wealth and denied safe return to their homes. Even from the humanitarian aspect, all refugees should be permitted to return to their homes in safety,and the parties concerned should immediately undertake urgent and effec- tive measures to this end. 25. In this connexion, I should like to express my delegation's appreciation to the United Nations Peace- keeping Force in Cyprus for having carried out humanita- rian work, even though on a limited scale, in spite of restrictions on its freedom of movement. Apart from humanitarian work, the United Nations Force in Cyprus .has played a crucial role in preventing new outbreaks of hostility between the two rival communities. Furthermore, its contribution has been of great significance in the promotion of intercommunal negotiations. 26. On many occasions the just cause of the Republic of Cyprus has been taken up by the non-aligned countries, the latest being the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or "The situation in Cyprus calls for a climate of peace where communal harmony should be restored through constructive dialogue between the two Cypriot com- munities. Such a state. of affairs, we believe, is possible only when every nation honours and respects the sover- eignty, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Cyprus." It is this objective that we should pursue at this sessionon the question of Cyprus. 27. Before I conclude, let me express my delegation's appreciation to the Secretary-General Mr. Waldheim and his Special Representative in Cyprus for their untiring peace efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus problem.

As many of the previous speakers have already pointed out, the situation in the island of Cyprus continues to cause concern in the international community and continues to be a dangerous hotbed of tension in the Mediterranean region. 29. The position of the Mongolian People's Republic in regard to the Cyprus problem is well known. It has been repeatedly stated by our representatives during the dis- cussion of this problem at earlier sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations and also in other inter- national forums. In this matter, the Mongolian Government proceeds first of all from the premise that the basic interests of the Cypriot people, their right to decide their own fate without any interference from outside, must be taken fully into account. The MongolianPeople's Republic has always supported the efforts of peace-loving States to find a peaceful political solution to the Cypriot problem, to settle it on the basis of the well-known decisions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, with absolute respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cypriot State. In particular, our delegation feels that the idea of convening, within the framework of the United Nations, a representative international confer- ence to deal with Cyprus, an idea which was put forward earlier by the Soviet Union, retains its constructive validity to this day. Our delegation pays a tribute to the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kurt Waldheim, efforts which he exerted in accordance with the mandate given to him by the Security Council and the General Assembly in order to facilitate the successof direct talks between the representatives of the two Cypriot communities, so as to find a solution for the constitutional aspects of the problem of Cyprus. 30. However, the hope which the international com- munity felt when these negotiations started unfortunately was not justified. Moreover, if we judge by the recent reports in the world' press, the danger which threatens the national independence and the territorial integrity of the 31. The tragic situation of this island, which has now gone on for over two years, is the reason why Cyprus today is in fact partitioned into two parts, with a third of ,its population of 600,000 people forced to leave their homes and become refugees and two-fifths of the territory of the island now occupied by foreign troops. There is no doubt that peace and stability in Cyprus cannot be restored if such a situation continues. The lack of a solution to the Cyprus problem is fraught with considerable danger for the future of the people of Cyprus. The attempts to delay a settlement, to impose a NATO version of a "settlement", further complicate the situation in the island, and indeed in the whole Mediterranean region. 32. In these circumstances, it is imperative to intensify efforts to find a speedy and just solution of the Cyprus problem and to restore the situation in the island fully to normal, not only in order to protect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, a fully-fledged Member of the United Nations, but also in order to strengthen international peace and security. In the attainment of this objective, the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, have, in my delegation's opinion, an important and effective role to play. 33. We also wish to draw attention to the positive outcome of the recent Parliamentary elections in the territory under the control of the Makarios Government, which marked a complete victory for the patriotic forces upholding the sovereignty, the independence and the territorial integrity of Cyprus. In our view, this creates a favourable condition for the activization of the further struggle of Cypriots to achieve a settlement of the crisis in keeping with their vital interests. 34. ID the view of our delegation, one of the central aspects of the problem of Cyprus is the question of the . withdrawal of the foreign troops which are now on Cyprus. It is well known that the so-calledguarantee of some States members of NATO, which was imposed on Cyprus earlier, not only proved to be ineffective but in fact served as a justification for foreign military intervention in the domes- tic affairs of the young Republic. This is why our delegation supports the consistent implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations, and the withdrawal from Cyprus of all foreign armed forces, without any exception, as well as the liquidation of all military bases and this would be in keeping with the hopes and aspirations of the Cypriots themselves. Such a view is also supported by the Fifth Conference of the HeadsofState or Government ofthe Non-Aligned Countries which took place in Colombo, which in its political declaration "demanded the immediate 35-. In conclusion I wish to express the hope that the discussion of the Cyprus question at this General Assembly session will make a positive contribution to the speedy solution of that problem. 36. Mr. McGOVERN (United States of America): The question of Cyprus is again before the General Assembly. Despite the concern. of the international community and . the efforts of the Secretary-General, there has been no real progress toward a lasting settlement during the past year. The goal of peace and justice for Cyprus-a goal which my Government shares with the people of Cyprus and with all Members of the United Nations-is yet to be achieved. 37. My Government has repeatedly expressed its deep concern over the continuing lack of progress toward a Cyprus settlement. As Secretary of State Kissinger empha- sized in his speech before this Assembly this September {11th meeting], the passage of time has served only to diminish possibilities for constructive conciliation. There has been ample help available, most notably through the good offices of the Secretary-General, but for such assist- ance to be effective, an essential condition is the willingness of both sides to commit themselves to sustained negotia- tions. Such a commitment is not yet evident. 38. Since the tragic events of 1974, the United Nations has provided an important forum for encouraging progress toward a settlement. Through their resolutions the General Assembly and the Security Council have expressed the continuing concern which all members of the international community share over the situation in Cyprus. The Secre- tary-General has worked tirelessly, under the "good offices" mandate provided -for by these resolutions, to encourage negotiations between the Cyprus communities. My Government again wishes to express its appreciation for the patience and skill with which Secretary-General Wald- heim has pursued this mission. He and his associates have worked diligently-but thus far to little avail. 39. The United States has sought and will continue to seek to assist the Secretary-General in every way possible. We have consulted closely with him, and with other Member States intimately involved with the Cyprus question. In September, Secretary Kissinger put forward several ideas aimed at serving as a point of Jeparture for the parties' discussion of their most serious problems. 40. In recent weeks we have consulted intensively with members of the European Community in an effort to refine and improve this framework. We are still engaged in this 41. In sum, my Government believes that a rapid and equitable solution is essential and that enhancing the prospects for a negotiated settlement should be the foremost consideration in the General Assembly's current debate. We believe the cause of peace on Cyprus is less well served by continued public dispute than by serious, quiet discussion of the real issues. 42. This year's session of the General Assembly, through calm and reasoned consideration of the issues, can make a meaningful contribution to the search for peace on Cyprus. What is needed is a moderate and balanced resolution which encourages both sides to embark once again on a productive negotiating course.

Recently important and positive changes have taken place in contemporary inter- national life towards the strengthening of international security and making the relaxation of tensions become a leading trend in international development. These impor- tant and positive improvements are entirely in keeping with the vital interests of the whole of mankind. However, in our days, too, when considerable success was achieved in improving the international situation there are still hotbeds of tension which constitute a threat to international peace and security. A small island State, the Republic of Cyprus, has been now, for over two years, one of the "hot spots" on our planet. 44. It is scarcely necessary to dwell again, in detail, on the events of July. 1974, when the Republic of Cyprus, as a result of foreign intervention, was thrown into a serious crisla. These events Ere fresh in our memory and we are constantly reminded of them by the explosive situation which exists in Cyprus to this date. 45. On that island, foreign troops are still present. Five rounds of talks between the Greek and the Turkish communities, which were called upon to find a solution for the domestic problems of Cyprus and which were held under the aegis of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, did not lead to the finding of mutually acceptable agreements. Almost 200,000 Cypriots who were forced to ieave their homes continue to be refugees in their own country. As pointed out in an article by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, Mr. Gromyko, published in the September Issue of the magazineKommunist: "The situation is aggravated by attempts to impose upon the Cypriots a settlement which would be in keeping with the interests of imperialist circles that are preparing plans to do away with the territorial integrity of the country as a State, and even as a republic;and to turn that island into a military and strategic base for NATO. Indeed, such intentions are the first cause of the ills and calamities that have befallen Cyprus." 47. From the very beginning of the conflict on Cyprus, the problem of Cyprus was the centre of attention of the Organization. The General Assembly, at its twenty-ninth session, had considered the question of Cyprus and it adopted unanimously resolution 3212 (XXIX). That resolu- tion, as we all know, was unanimously approved by the Security Council in its resolution 365 (1974). The thirtieth session of the General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority, adopted resolution 3395 (XXX) on the question cf Cyprus. 48. In all these decisions of the United Nations on Cyprus important provisions are laid down-provisions that deal with the very basis of a settlement of the problem of Cyprus. In particular the decisions provide for the need to preserve the independence, sovereignty and territorial integ- rity of the Republic of Cyprus, respect for its policy of 'non-alignment, the speediest possible withdrawal of all foreign troops and military personnel from the territory of Cyprus, non-interference in the domestic affairs of the State of Cyprus, and the return of refugees to their homes. Yet, these clear and unambiguous demands of the united Nations, which express the will of an overwhelming majority of the States Members of this Organization, are not being met. 49. The non-implementation of resolutions repeatedly adopted in the United Nations, and as a result of this the perpetuation of an explosive situation in Cyprus, indicate that the inclusion of the question of Cyprus on the agenda of the thirty-first session of the General Assembly at the request of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is fully justified and most appropriate. 50. As regards the Soviet Union, its position of principle on the question of Cyprus has been stated repeatedly and is well known. The Soviet Union has consistently maintained that a settlement of the problem of Cyprus must be based on the principles of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and that the domestic problems of Cyprus must be resolved by taking fully into account the interests and the rights of both communities, without any attempt whatsoever to impose on the Cypriots from outside decisions which would be alien to them. 51. The Soviet Union believes that the demilitarization of that island-which would involve the withdrawal of the foreign troops and the liquidation of all foreign military bases-would be an important prerequisite for a durable settlement on Cyprus. 52. The position of the Soviet Union on the question of Cyprus was made exhaustively clear in the report of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Com- munist Party of the US3R, Comrade L. I. Brezhnev, at the Twenty-Fifth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Comrade Brezhnev stated: "In Europe there is still, in particular, the complex and dangerous hotbed of tension that is the problem of 53. This position of principle of the Soviet Union flows from the very substance of the Leninist foreign policy which it pursues, a policy of ensuring the inalienable rights of all peoples to determine their own destiny indepen- dently, without any interference and without any pressure from outside. 54. The Soviet Union firmly supports the immediate and full implementation of the decisions of the United Nations on Cyprus and continues to feel that the best way to settle the problem of Cyprus on the basis of these decisions would be to convene, within the framework of the United Nations, a representative, international conference on Cyprus, with the participation of Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, the States members of the Security Council and also possibly of other States-including non-aligned States. The character of the present situation in Cyprus, the continuous attempt, by certain circles, to bypass the resolutions of the United Nations on the question of Cyprus, in order to impose on the people of Cyprus decisions which would be favourable to them within the narrow framework of the NATO military bloc, fully confirms the timeliness of the proposal of the Soviet Government to consider the question of Cyprus at a representative international forum, within the framework of this Organization. 55. The need for and advisability of such an approach to a settlement in Cyprus becomes even more obvious if we take into account the considerable difficulties which exist in conducting intercommunal negotiations and also the at- tempts to turn these negotiations in substance into a cover-up for outside interference in the domestic affairs of Cyprus. This is pointed out in the report of the Secretary- General of the United Nations submitted in accordance with paragraph 6 of Security Council resolution 391 (1976), as follows: "The existing deadlock has tended to affect adversely the sltuation in the island [and) to prolong the sufferings of many of its people ..." I 56. The clear and firm position of the USSR on the Cyprus question is a practical expression of its consistent determination to arrive at the elimination of the hotbeds of military conflict which are an impediment to the further strengthening of world peace. 57. The statements of the heads of delegations of the States ~v1embers of the United Nations on the question of Cyprus in the course of the general debate at the present session of the General Assembly have indicated that the international community feels great anxiety and concern over the continuing dangerous and tense situation in 58. It iswell known that the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which took place in Colombo, paid much attention to the question of Cyprus. The interest of the participants in the Conference in the Cyprus crisis is very understandable and right because the issue here is the present and future of one of the founders and most active participants of the non-aligned movement, the Republic of Cyprus. The States participants in the Conference approved a Political Declaration in which they confirmed their solldarlty with the Government and people of Cyprus, supported the immediate implementation or' the resolutions of the United Nations on the Cyprus question, appealed to all States to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-aligned status of Cyprus, demanded the immediate and unconditional with- drawal of foreign military forces and the removal of any other foreign military presence in Cyprus and called for urgent measures to ensure the safe return of all refugees to their homes / see A/31/197, annex I, sect. XJ. 59. The Soviet Union has always taken the position that the United Nations must play an active part in achieving a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus and that the decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Cyprus must be put into effect. It is the duty of our Organization to find ways and means to carry out the decisions adopted by this Organization on Cyprus and to give active assistance to the people of Cyprus, who are selflessly struggling to defend their' independence from imperialist encroachments. The Soviet Union is prepared to co-operate with other States to achieve a just settlement of the Cyprus crisis and thus to prevent developments that could lead to a further exacerbation of the situation in that region of the world.

The people of Cyprus won their independence after a long and hard-fought struggle and at great sacrifice. However, for all of us who sincerely welcomed their victory, it was a great sorrow to witness, from the very first years of independence, the tranquillity of the island disturbed and the endeavours of the people of Cyprus to rebuildtheir country in peace and freedom being systematically violated as a result of overt interference and subversive actions by foreign forces. 61. The aims pursued by those forces have nothing to do with the interests of the people of Cyprus, Le. the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. What we have in mind in this instance is that some influential circles of NATO continue to implicate Cyprus in their long-term political, military and strategic plans vis-a-vis the region of the eastern Mediterranean. Obviously, they have not yet given up their intention to resolve the Cyprus crisis within the narrow confines and from the viewpoint of the selfish and one-sided interests of a closed military and political grouping. 62. In the context of the political situation in the eastern Mediterranean, where a dangerous hotbed of tensions and confllcts still exists, and is still smouldering, it is easy to understand the deep concern and anxiety voiced by a good 63. The concern of the Bulgarian Government and people with regard to the Cyprus crisis is fully understandable, for my country is situated in close geographical proximity to a region where stability, lasting peace and security are yet to be established. We can hardly be expected to remain indifferent to the fact that the Cyprus problem is still unresolved and that attempts are still being made to snatch it away from the competence of the United Nations and to settle it through the abortive methods of behind-the-scenes diplomacy. 64. Bulgaria's position on the Cyprus question is well- known. It has been repeatedly expounded here and on many other occasions. This is a position of principle and is not affected by short-term political considerations. This position derives from the consistent policy of socialist Bulgaria in the Balkans for the establishment of lasting peace and security in that part of the world, and for the promotion of friendship and co-operation among all nations in the area. Our attitude with regard to the Cyprus problem is determined by these fundamental principles too. As I pointed out, my country is too close to the area of conflict to be lr.different, and too keen to maintain friendly relations with Cyprus, Greece and Turkey to be biased in the dispute. The Bulgarian Government and people, there- fore, have always had the sincere desire to see our neighbours, Greece and Turkey, live in peace and under- standing with one another and with the independent Republic of Cyprus. . 65. This basic- approach of my country was recently reiterated by the President of the Council of State of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Todor Zh. who stated: "Our position on the Cyprus question is one of principle and consistency. We stand for the preservation of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and against imperialist en- croachments, against foreign interference in the internal affairs of this much-tried country." 66. In keeping with this fundamental policy, we note with satisfaction that both the general debate and the current session confirm the understanding that General Assembly resolution 3212 (XXIX), reaffirmed by Security Council resolution 365 (1974), laid the firm foundations for a peaceful and just solution of the Cyprus problem. There is no doubt that the safest and shortest cut to a genuinely lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem is the one that leads through the full implementation of the United Nations resolutions. The above-mentioned resolutions clear- ly outline the requirements ana principles which constitute the basis for the settlement of the conflict in freedom and equality and in the interests of the people of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. The same understanding was also emphasized in the Political Declara- ~esolutions and on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of Cyprus, and called for the withdrawal of all foreign armed forces from that country. 67. We are deeply convinced that a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus crisis which.will take account of the legitimate rights of the parties can be reached under these conditions by peaceful means, through constructive negotiations be- tween the two communities, and under the auspices of the United Nations. 68. I have already mentioned the deleterious effect on the situation in Cyprus, as well as on peace and security in the eastern Mediterranean, of foreign interference which pre- vents the people of Cyprus from deciding their own affairs.' Such interference has brought new suffering to this people. The development of events in Cyprus has proved also that the existing system of so-called guarantees is no longer capable of ensuring the peace and tranquillity of the people of Cyprus and maintaining good and healthy relations between the two communities in the full recognition of their legitimate right to live in freedom and security. 69. Bearingin mind the difficulties which stand in the way of a settlement of the Cyprus crisis, the proposal of the Soviet Union for the convening of an international confer- ence on Cyprus within the framework of the United Nations is even more timely now. A representative forum of States, including Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, all the members of the Security Council and possibly some other States particularly among the non-aligned group, would, in ou; opuuon, not only help to find a way out of the present impasse concerning the problem; under the present circum- stances, such a forum would also open up the best prospects for a peaceful and just settlement of the conflict. Were such an international conference to be convened, it would be in full conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and would also considerably facilitate the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Such initiatives will definitely enhance the prestige of the United Nations and its peace-keeping and peace-building role. 70. The obstacles on the road to a lasting political solution of the Cyprus problem have not been surmounted, in spite of the tireless efforts and devotion of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the discharge of his noble mission. The Bulgarian delegation shares the view that the United Nations can and must help effectively in the settlement of the crisis. We sincerely believe that a solution can be found which will correspond to the genuine interests of the people of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, as well as to the interests of peace and security in this region. My Government is prepared now, as it was during the most difficult times, to help create an atmosphere of confidence and understanding among all Balkan nations and to help remove the sources of conflict which are likely to disturb peace and security in the eastern Mediterranean and in Europe. 72. In pursuance of this policy of the Government of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian delegation is prepared to offer its co-operation so that the Assembly at this session can adopt decisions which would promptly dispose of the difficulties facing Cyprus today and make for the peaceful and mutually satisfactory solution of the problems of Cyprus without delay.

I speak this afternoon on behalf of a country which in many ways ,is comparable to the island of Cyprus, whose problems we are discussing here under item 118 of the agenda of this Assembly. Sri Lanka, like Cyprus, is a small island; Sri Lanka, like Cyprus, has, I believe, been blessed by nature; they are both, by common consent, beautiful islands, whose peoples have been able to live for a considerable period of time in Peace and tranquillity. But unlike Sri Lanka, Cyprus has been disadvantaged by a geographical situation which, in one sense of the word.fs unique, since it stands at the junction of the three major continents of the world-Europe, Africa and Asia. This unfortunate geograph- ical situation has perhaps contributed in no small measure to some of the problems which the Cypriot people are facing today. 74. As I stand at this forum and survey the representatives of the assembled nations, I note that the great majority of countries represented here are countries where more than one ethnic group inhabit their respective territories. But in most of these countries, over the years, by the fortune of circumstances, by their own particular historical evolution and by their ability to conduct their own affairs within their own boundaries, they have been able to overcome some of the inheritances of their respective histories. Cyprus unfortunately has not been able to build itself into a single nation-principally because its two communities, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, have not been able to reach that degree of understanding and harmony without which the firm basis of nationhood cannot be built. We in the United Nations are aware that, after the tragic happenings of the summer of 1974, this Assembly has passed two resolutions, resolution 3212 (XXIX) of November 1974, and resolution 3395 (XXX) of November 1975. Similarly, the Security Council has passed two important resolutions on this problem, resolution 365 (1974) and resolution 367 (1975). 75. In the view of our delegation, the above considerations continue to provide the basic principles on which, and the framework within which, efforts should continue to be made to achieve a peaceful, just and permanent solution of the problems that now beset Cyprus, bringing to both G!eek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots untold suffering. Literally hundreds of thousands of human beings living in that island are facing trepidation, facing a fearful future, and above all uncertainty in their day-to-day existence and in the basic concepts and dignity they are entitled to as human beings. 76. I speak today, not only as representative of Sri Lanka but as representative of the current Chairman of the Group 77. I wish here to refer to the argument that has been adduced very often by the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community in the island, as well as by representa- tives of the Turkish Government, that there has always been a suspicion, from the Turkish point of view justifiable, of Cyprus eventually becoming a part of Greece under the philosophy and doctrine of enosis: Whatever we outside Cyprus and outside that area may think, I am here prepared to state that, having regard to the numerical minority status of the Turkish Cypriot community, this is perhaps an understandable, though not necessarily justifiable, fear and suspicion. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge the fact that the present Government of Cyprus, since its accession to sovereignty in 1960,has stated morethanonce, repeatedly and categorically, that the aim of that Govern- ment is the foundation of a Cypriot nation independent alike of Greece and of Turkey or of any other sovereign State asa third party. 78. At the recent Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, the question of Cyprus came up for serious consideration. In this hall, speakers who have preceded me, representing nations not only of that group but even of others, have quoted extensively from the Political Declaration made in Colombo at the end of that Conference, and I can do no better than to repeat here that it is our firm conviction that the solution to the Cyprus problem lies along the guidelines indicazed in that Declaration. And may I quote what that Declaration stated. In the Colombo Declaration, the Heads of State or Government proceeded to state asfollows: "In urging the immediate'implementation of United Nations resolutions, the Conference called upon all States . to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorialinteg- rity and non-alignment of Cyprus; demanded the imme- diate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign armed forces ... and called for the initiation of urgent measures to ensure the safe return of all refugees to their homes. The Conference supported the continuation of meaning- ful and constructive negotiations between the representa- tives of the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities freely conducted on an equalfooting, which should lead to a mutually satisfactory and freely accept- able agreement and emphasized the need for the parties concerned to adhere to the agreements reached at all 79. It is the view of my delegation that there is still time for the international community, in the person of the Secretary-General of this Organization, and indeed through the presence of an international peace-keeping force in the island, for a fair, a just and a permanent settlement to be reached in Cyprus. But we hope that the little time left to us wiU not be wasted. The Assembly agenda over the years has given us more than one example of one-time soluble problems which have now become almost insoluble, be- cause the passage of time has crystaJJized them until the points of view of Governments, the emotions of peoples and the attitudes of certain parties have become extremely hardened. I need hardly refer to another such situation which has produced such a result in the very same eastern Mediterranean region. The problems in southern Africa give us yet another example of reluctance on the part of this Assembly. and of procrastination on the part of the international community, which with every passing year have made acceptable solutions more and more difficult to achieve. It is our hope and our prayer that the question of Cyprus will not be pushed into that category. We believe that there is hope, and we say this with some degree of conviction, because from this very forum we have heard statements on behalfof the Cypriot Government, on behalf of the Governments of Greece and of Turkey, and indeed of all interested nations who are gathered here. But we derive specific hope from the statements made by both the Foreign Minister of Cyprus and the Foreign Minister of Turkey. 80. If I may be permitted to quote, may I refer to the statement made the other day by the Ambassador of Turkey, Ambassador Turkmen, who quoted the Turkish Foreign Minister's statement from this very rostrum earlier in this session. Ambassador Turkmen said this: "At the end of my statement I should like to reiterate that the Turkish Government is deeply committed to a peaceful and just solution of the Cyprus problem."/61st meeting, para. 124./ He proceeded to quote from his Foreign Minister, who had said this at an earlier meeting of this session: "Turkey in no way intends to maintain its forces in Cyprus.... Turkey has no wish to impose a solution and has no interestin Cyprus beyond the independence of the island and the prosperity and security of the Turkish ,.;ommunity. Turkey wants Cyprus to remain outside any strategic arrangements and does not want it to become a pawn in the power politics of the major Powers. And along these lines I would like once again to stress that the Turkish community has committed itself to a policy of non-alignment for Cyprus. For those reasons, any solu- tion acceptable to the Turkish community is also and without reservations acceptable to Turkey. As soon as a solution is found, Turkey will without delay withdraw its military forces .. .".{8th meeting, para. 218.} If Turkey is prepared to withdraw its military forces the moment a solution is found and the position of the Cyprus 81. I must make it clear on behalf of my Government that we have never subscribed to the principle that any State is justified in using its armed forces, however justifiable it itself may think it to be, In the settlement of international disputes. Much less so would be justified the use of the armed forces of a State in order to interfere in what are the internal affairs of a neighbouring State, however much compassion and feeling for fellow ethnic members of that country's citizenry would appear to justify such action. We must not forget that it was particularly under such an excuse that the armed forces of one of the major Powers in central Europe in 1939 moved its forces to protect the minority of its own origin in a neighbouring State, letting loose the worst war this planet has seen. The principle is one which we cannot accept. If, as we did in this very hall not so long ago, accept the principle of the non-use of force in international relations, how much less are wejustified in permitting the use of force in the internal affairs of another State. But if the Turkish Government is prepared to withdraw its forces once a just solution is found and if one of the justifications of that intervention is the fear-I am sure genuinely held by the Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish Government-that there is still a lurking possibility of Cyprus being absorbed into Greece on the basis of the ideology of enosis, may I be permitted to quote what the Foreign Minister of Cyprus said here from this very rostrum this week. He said: "... in so far as the Greek Cypriot side is concerned, it has been made abundantly clear in its proposals, dated April 1976, on the solution of the Cyprus problem that enosis should be excluded ...". {61st meeting, para. 166./ The Foreign Minister went on to quote from these proposals: " 'On the fundamental assumption that the territory of the Republic of Cyprus shall be one and indivisible and that the integral or partial union of Cyprus with any other State or any separatism, independence or partition are excluded ...' ".{Ibid.} If an assurance was necessary that enosis is no longera part of the governmental policy of the Republic of Cyprus, then I think we should accept that assurance and if, after bilateral discussions between the two communities on the island, different arrangements of a legal nature are to be decided upon, surely that categorical assurance by the Government of Cyprus that enosis will be excluded must necessarily go far to lulling and allaying the suspicions and fears of the Turkish Cypriot community within the island and of the Turkish Government outside it. 82. May we very humbly suggest that what is really at the crux of the Cyprus problem is mutual suspicion and misunderstanding. We urge the Government of Turkey to consider a phased withdrawal, commencing as soon as possible, of their armed forces as a token of good faith which can then be an exercise and a challenge to the Cypriot Government to move perhaps faster and more 83. We ourselves of Sri Lanka are very much aware of the difficulties that face.small countries, particularly when they are situated in such strategic areas as the Republic of Cyprus is. But it is in that spirit that we believe that this problem is not incapable of solution. It is not beyond the ingenuity of man, and I dare say not beyond the ingenuity of international diplomacy, to get the parties together. We believe that, in the last resort, the Turkish Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community within the island of Cyprus must agree and must learn to live together.• No outside Powers, whether the two so-called mother countries of Greece and Turkey or other Powers of that area, could help them in this exercise, and for that purpose we must set about allaying distrust and suspicions which have been the inheritances of a long and bloody historical past on that smallisland, and it is our conviction that if this message could be got across, that if the Governments of Turkey and of Greece and indeed of Cyprus itself, could, by a show of good faith, indicate to both communities, that neither has anything to fear from an independent, sover- eign, indivisible, non-aligned Cyprus, then the tasks of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and of the international community will become that much easier. 84. I wish, before I conclude, to pay the"tribute of my country and of my Government to those forces of the United Nations peace-keeping operation in Cyprus who have, over many years in the past, helped at least to contain the spread of fighting and prevent the even greater loss of blood that might have followed. 85. We wish to compliment the Secretary-General of the United Nations on his patient efforts to satisfy the requirements and the demands of peace and of justice in Cyprus. It is our wish that with the wisdom that we have come to expect from that part of the world in the history of our civilization a solutionto this limited problem can be found while it is still manageable and we deeply hope that the question of Cyprus will not, like some other questions, become a hardy annual for every succeeding General Assembly of the United Nations to discuss.

I calI now on the representative of the Netherlands, who will speak on behalf of the nine members of the European Communities.

Taking the floor on behalf of the nine countries of the European Communities, whose views I have been invited to present, I shall avoid as much as possible references to the past. The history of the problem relating to the unhappy and unsettled situation in Cyprus has been recalled often enough for those who are most directly involved to realize that we appreciate their anguish and share their concern. Again during the general debate of this thirty-first General Assembly the numerous references to Cyprus have given proof not only of the continued concern of Member States but also of our conviction that efforts should be renewed to leek the elimination of the divergencies that separate, and have separated for too long, the parties concerned. 89. The nine countries members of the European Com- munities are not oblivious of the fact that the divergent views have placed the parties in seemingly irreconcilable positions. In itself it is not sufficient to urge the parties to resume negotiations. It is our fervent hope that the parties will find the courage and the strength required to bridge the existing gap. 90. The nine countries have followed with particular attention the course along which the intercommunal talks proceeded, under the auspices of the Secretary-General. They have endeavoured, through direct contacts with the parties concerned, to encourage meaningful intercommunal talks. We wish to pay a tribute to the patience and resourcefulness of Mr. Waldheim and of his collaborators, in particular his Special Representative on the island, Ambas- sador Perez de Cuellar. It is clear that the failure to make progress, in spite of all efforts, must be attributed to the reluctance of the parties to make sufficient concessions through substantive negotiations. We sincerely hope these negotiations will be resumed in the very near future. 91. The nine countries also wish to put on record their appreciation for the continued role of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus. 93. Since the parties concerned are well aware of the close and continued interest of the nine Governments, they will understand why we shall not relinquish our efforts to bring them together. In doing so, we remain faithful, and shall continue to adhere, to the basic premises: the indepen- dence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. 94. An indispensable requirement for the achievement of this threefold purpose is a better understanding between the two communities, whose essential role in the process of working out a solution we recognize. Therefore, we appeal to the leaders of the two communities to help create an atmosphere which would be conducive to a settlement. 95. In the view of our nine Governments, the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly as well as of the Security Council should be implemented. 96. The nine countries are ready to help establish "the basis for a constructive and meaningful further round of negotiations", in the words used by the. Secretary-General in the introduction to his annual report [A/31/1/Add.l, sect. III/. They consider it essential for those participating to aim at one goal: the future well-being of the Cypriot people. By achieving. this fundamental objective they will serve the cause of maintaining the peace in the eastern . Mediterranean.