S/32/PV.59 Security Council

As representatives are aware, the General Assembly decided, at its 59th plenary meeting on 7 November, to invite the Special Political Committee to meet for the purpose of hearing the views of the represen- tatives of the Cypriot communities. I request the Rap- porteur of the Special Political Committee, Miss Ruth Dobson of Australia, to present the Committee's report, which appears in document A/32/328. 2. Miss DOBSON (Australia), Rapporteur of the Special Political Committee: I have the honour to present to the General Assembly the report of the Special Political Committee which you have before you on agenda item 28 [A/32/328]. 3. As indicated in the report, in accordance with the decision taken by the General Assembly at its 59th plenary meeting, the Special Political Committee devoted part ofits 19th meeting, held on Monday afternoon, 7 November, for the purpose of hearing the views of representatives of the Cypriot communities. As requested by the General As- sembly, verbatim records were keDt, and the verbatim record of the meeting held on this subject by the Special Political Committee may be found in document A/SPC/32/PV.19.

May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Special Political Committee?

In discussing the Cyprus question once again, we are unfortunately obliged to note the fact that three years after the adoption of General Assembly resolution 3212 (XXIX) and Security Council resolution 365 (1974), no decisive steps have yet been taken to implement those important resolutions of the United Nations. NEW YOlK 6. The sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of Cyprus are still in serious danger; we stiIl fmd that on Cyprus there are foreign military bases; foreign troops are still deployed on the island; and no effective measures are being taken for the complete withdrawal of those troops. In Cyprus 200,000 refugees are still deprived of the opportunity to return to their homes and nothing is known of the fate of a large number of people who have disappeared without trace. The Cyprus question must still be viewed as a serious thre~t to universal peace and international security. In view of the existing situati<la world public opinion followed with gr~at interest 'f.ae renewal of intercommunal talks at the beginning of 1977_ As a result of the talks between the late President of the Republic of Cyprus, a valorous fighter for the cause of an independent, non-aligned Cyprus and the unforgettable representative of the non-aligned movement, Archbishop Makarios, and the represehtative of the Turkish Cypriot group of the population, Mr. Denkta~, it was possible to reach agreement on certain principles for a settlement of the internal problems ofCyprus. Thus hopes were rekindled of a normalization of the situation to the benefit of the people of Cyprus. But that extremely promising beginning was not followed up. At the present time the inter- communal talks are once again in a state of stagnation and the prospects of their speedy and successful resumption are not such as to inspire optimism. 7. The policy of creating faits accomplis is continuing and this does not help the solution of the Cyprus problem.. Explosive materia! is being accumulated further and can only serve to cause an escalation of tension on the island and effectively to destroy the unity of the Republic of Cyprus, a State Member of the United Nations. Recently the United Nations Security Council was forced to deal with these problems. 8. The German Democratic Republic has consistently supported the Security Council resolution, adopted by consensus, calling an the parties to refrain from unilateral action. The policy of creating faits accomplis has been accompanied by attempts by Western States to exclude the Cyprus problem from consideration by the United Nations. Attempts are being intensified to impose upon the people of Cyprus the so-called mediation of the North Atlantic Treaty Org~jjzation[NATO] and to bring about a kind of decision which is in the narrow, selfish intetests of the imperialist bloc. Apart from anything else, certain NATO circles attempted last year, by sending emissaries to the region of the conflict, to further its imperialistic concept of the transformation of that island Republic into an unsink- able aircraft carrier. All this is detrimental to the people of Cyprus and to peace in the Mediterranean area and is in flagrant contradiction to the above-mentioned resolutions 10. The explosive situation in and around Cyprus demands the adoption of urgent and effet;tive measures. It is precisely for this reason that the German Democratic Republic is in favour of strict observance and consistent implementation, in this region also, of the principle of peacefu! coexistence enshrlnad in international legal form in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.2 The people of Cyprus must be guaranteed the right to peace, freedom and national independence. 1L With regard to solving the internal problems of the country, here again the view of the German Democratic Republic remains unchangea: they should be resolved by ~i.e Cypriots thenlSf"lves, taking into account the interests of both the Greek and the Turkish groups of the popula- tion. Appropriate talks can be successful only if both, and not just one, of the sides show readiness to be realistic, to make concessions and to refrain from any action which T'.Jght complicate the situation. We cannot permit any change in the demograplllc structure of the population of the island imposed by force from outside. For a long time the German Democr~tic Republic has been linked by ties of friendship to the Republic of Cyprus; it has from the beginning condemned the interventic~~ in. Cyprus and the policy ofunceasing intervention by all the NATO countries, and has called for the withdrawal from the territory of Cyprus of an fore~gn troops. Our Republic has been providing unintemlpted assistance in order to alleviate the consequences of intervention. Among the people of the German Democratic Republic the idea of solidarity with Cyprus is deeply rooted. 12. A week ofsolidarity with the struggle of the people of Cyprus was celebrated in the German Democratic Republic from 11 to 17 July 1977. On the occasion of the visit to ,me German Democratic Republic of the General Secretary of the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic, Erich Honecker, stated on 24 September this year that the Socialist Unity Party of Germany ~nd the people of the German Democratic Republic wovld c{)ntinae in solidarity to support the struggle of ill progres;~ivefor,;:es in Cyprus. 1 See Ofj'icitzl Records of the Security Council, Twenty-ninth year, Supplement for July, August and September 1974, document 8/11465. . , ~tability in the region. Moreover, we are convinced that a hardening of positions on any side cannot improve a ' r ' 14. The multifaceted humanitarian, economic and other problems whjch now represent tremendous burdens for the people of Cyprus can be resolved, in the fmal analysis, only by a political settlement of tlie Cyprus question. Primarily, such a settlement should include a guarantee of the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non- alignment of the Republic of Cyprus. 15. The German Democratic Republic will continue to support, as in the past, any initiatives and measures which are likely to lead to a settlement of the Cyprus conflict in accordance with these principles. 16..Mr. LOHANI (Nepal): The question of Cyprus, as in the past, is one of the major items on the agenda of the present session of the General Assembly. It is a matter of concern that efforts for the solution of the problem of Cyprus have not been successful. My delegation has noted with great apprecJ.ation the continued good offices provided by the Secretary·Gem~ral of the United Nations for the negotiations between the representatives of the two com- munities in Cyprus. An encouraging developme~t in the early months of 1977 were the high-level meetings, held for the fIrst time since 1963, between the late President, Archbishop Makarios, and Mr. Denkta§. As the leaders of the two communities agreed on a resumption of the intercommunal "talks and on general guidelines for their negotiations, prospects for progress towards a just and lasting peace in the strife-tom Republic appeared to be encouraging. 17. It is, however, a pity that in spite of the series oftalks held in Vienna and Nicosia during the last 10 months, the differences between the two communities are far from resolved and the gap between their positions remains as wide as ever. The Secretary-General has categorically stated in his report: "The political developments that have since occurred have not been of a nature to facilitate my efforts in pur~uance of the mission of good offices entrusted to me by the Security Council." [SeeA/32/282, para. 8.J 18. My delegation has consistently held the' view that the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non- alignment of Cyprus must be maintahted and respected. We believe that a political settlement acceptable to the two communities of Cyprus should be achieved by no other means but the intercommunal talks based on meaningful negotiations on constitutional, territorial and relevant matters under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. We are against any outside interference impeding the peaceful and constructive dialogue between the two sides. We appeal to the parties concerned to resume negotiations and to refrain from resorting to any measures that might fdrth'3f escalate tension and endanger peace and 19. Finally, we reaffrrm our belief that the Cyprus problem can and should be settled through intercommunal negotiations. It is our hope that the Secreta.~-Generalof the United Nations, despite his frustrated efforts to help generate "an effective negotiating process" [ibid., para. 26J will continue to make available his good offic~s with the help of his Special Representative. We support rus view that if the future talks are to be useful and meaningful, the parties concerned should express their readiness to nego- tiate "concretely and substantively" [ibid., para. 27J on all major aspects of the problem. 20. Before concluding, my delegation would like to state that we shall support draft resolution A/32/L.16.

For a number of years the situation in the Republic of Cyprus has been the cause of grave concern to the international community. 22. The fact is that foreign armed forces and foreign military bases are still present ill Cyprus and represent a grave infringement of the independence, the sovereignty and the territorial in\.egrity of the country. The Cypriots have to live in a state of constant tension, and the recent mover1rents they have had to effect in haste and against their will have completely disrupted their normal life. The negotiations between the representaiives of the two Cypriot communities are at a stalemate. Furthermore, all the resolutions on the problem of Cyprus adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and in which all parties concerne<! took part, as well as those that were adopted by the Security Council, have so far remained a dead letter because of the intransigence of one of the parties to the problem. The present situation in Cyprus is fraught with danger to international peace and security. 23. Almost four years have elapsed and many efforts have been made in the United Nations to assist the parties concerned to fmd a just and equitable solution that will meet fundamental national rights of the Cypriot people. A solution of this nature is in the inwrests not only of the people ofCyprus, but of all the countries of the region, and we are justified in feeling that the Cypriot crisis could have been solved quickly. However, as all members know, all these efforts have thus far been fruitless. Wlut is the real reason for this? 24. The delegation of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam considers that this reason must be found in the strategic designs of certain imperialist countries, particularly the United States of America, in that all-too-important region of the world. In this geopolitical context, those imperialist countries cannot accept the fact of the existence in that region of an independent, non-aligned, sovereign State such as the Republic of Cyprus. Therrfore, they have used every means at their disposal, acting through intermediaries, to 25. From this analysis, it becomes obvious !hat for a settlement of the crisis in Cyprus, frrst of all the imperialist countries must put an end to their interference in the domestic affairs of the Republic of Cyprus; they must respect the independence, the sovereignty, the territorial integrity and the non-alignment of that country; all foreign armed forces must immediately be withdrawn uncondi- tionally from Cyprus; for~ign military bases set up on the island must be completely dismantled, and measures must be taken to allow all displaced persons to return to their homes. The representatives of the two Cypriot com- munities, the Greek and the Turkish, must then assume responsibility for fmding. solutions to their problem through negotiations on an equal footing. 26. This is the position of the non-aligned countries on the problem of Cyprus, and this position was mentioned in the Political DeclarC\tion adopted at the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Colombo in August 1976,3 and reiterated in the fmal communique of the ministerial meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau of Non-Aligned Countries, held in New Delhi in April 1977 [A/32/74, annex IJ. 27. Furthermore, this is the position of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, a nonr.aligned State and a friend of the Republic of Cyprus. I wish once again to reaffrrrn from this rostrum my country's solidarity with and unreserved support for the government of President Spyros Kyprianou and the people of Cyprus in their struggle to defend the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the policy ofnon-alignment of their country.

The General Assembly is once again considering one of the important political questions on this session's agenda. As the Assemb!y will recall, since the thirty-frrst session of the General Assembly there has been no perceptible progress in the settlement of the Cyprus problem. This is the fourth year in which the Cypriots have continued to be deprived of the opportunity to decide on their c'iln fate independently and without outside inter- ference; and this is shown in particular by the continuing presence of foreign troops and a military base, which are the fundamental obstacles to an immediate and just settlement of the question. The machinations of external imperialist forces are still going on. The principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integ- rity and the non-aligned status of this young Republic are still being flouted. Furthermore, actions have been under- taken with the aim of dismembering Cyprus. As a result the country is £tilI split into two parts, and this is contrary to the fundamental interests both of the Turkish Cypriots and of the Greek Cypriots, who have lived together for centuries. 30. Everyone knows that the General Assembly and the Security Council have repeatedly discussed the question of Cyprus and have adopted relevant resolutions, including General Assembly resolutions 3212 (XXIX), 3395 (XXX) and other resolutions, which could serve as a legal basis for a just settlement of the problem' of Cyprus. In its resolutions the United Nations has appealed to all States to respect the sov.ereignty, independence, territorial integrity and policy of non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus. . These same resolutions also prOVide for the withdrawal without further delay of all foreign armed forces and foreign military personnel from the Republic ofCyprus and for the cessation of all foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the Republic of Cyprus. However, as corre~tly pointed out in the report of the Secretary·General of the United Nations, "with regard to certain aspects of these resolutions there has been little or no forward movement" [A/32/282, para. 25]. Thus the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council adopted in previous years are not being complied with. 31. The so-called extraordinary "stubbornness" or apparent insolubility ofthe Cyprus crisis is to be explained, above all, by the attempts on the part of a number of NATO countries to turn Cyprus into an "unsmkable aircraft carrier", that is to say, a military base for the North Atlantic bloc, and it is a secret to no one that imperialist circles of the West are attempting to exacerbate an already crisis-ridden situation on the island and to use the situation that has arisen there :to intensify, to their own advantage, internal reaction and changes in the political relationship of forces on the island of Cyprus. This is demonstrated precisely by all the attempts on the part of NATO circles to bypass the United Nations, and to have the Cyprus problem submitted for consideration to the so-called "interested States" within the framework ofNATO. It is quite obvious that the purpose of such mediation on the part ofWestern countries is primarily the idea of perpetuating the presence in the country of foreign armed forces and preserving and, if possible, consolidating further the factual partition of the island, thu~ converting it into a military and strategic beachhead for the aggressive NATO bloc. On the basis of what I have said, the Mongolian delegation once again calls for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cyprus, as this would undoubtedly create favourable conditions for ajust settlement ofthe Cyprus problem. 32. Throughout the short but difficult hisL>ry of the young State ofCyprus 'ihe Mongolian People's Republic has always supported, and continues to support, its indepen- dence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity and non-aligned status. The joint declaratiun of the Mongolian People's Republic and the German Democratic Republic issued en 6 May this year points out: "Both sides stand for a just settlement of the Cyprus problem 'on the basis of respe~t for the sovereignty·and territorial integrity of the Republic ofCyprus." - 33. Mr. ISSRAELYAN (Union of Soviet Socialist Re- publics) (interpretation from Russian): Once again the General Assembly of the United Nations, for the fourth year now, has embarked upon a consideration of the Cyprus question included in the agenda of the thirty-second session in accordance with a resolution of the.last session of the General Assembly [resolution 31/12J. The time which has elapsed since this resolution was adopted has not led to any easing of tension in Cyprus. The Cyprus crisis still remains one of the dangerous hotbeds threatening inter- national peace and security. The continuation of the situation of danger in Cyprus is a direct consequence of failure to comply with the fundamental resolutions of the United Nations on the question of Cyprus. 34. As you will recall, as far back as November 1974-that is, soon after the non-aligned State of the Republic of Cyprus was dragged into a deeply critical situation as a result of flagrant armed intervention from outside-the General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted resolution 3212 (XXIX), which called upon all States to respect the ~vereignty, independence, territorial integrity and policy of non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus; to effect the speedy withdrawal of all foreign armed forces and foreign military personnel from the Republic of Cyprus; to desist from all foreign intervention in the "affairs of the Cypriot State and to ensure the return of all the refugees to their homes in safety6 This re:'3olution also expressed the hope that, if necessary~ appropriate efforts, including negotiations, could take place within the framework of the United Nations' for the purpose of implementing the provisions of that reso!'ltion, thus ensur- ing to the Republic of Cyprus its fundamental right to independence~ sovereignty and territorial integrity. Resolu- tion 3212 (XXIX) of the General Assembly was st;b- sequently unanimously approved by the Security Council in its resolution 365 (1974). 35. The provisions of General Assembly resolution 3212 (XXIX) are of fundamental importance in principle and, as we know, those provisions were confrrmed in subzequent decisions at the thirtieth and thirty-frrs! sessions of the General Assembly on the question of Cyprus, population of tIle country-are still deprived of the oppor- tunity to return to their homes and they continue to lead the lives of refugees. Foreign troops remain in Cyprus. As shown by the contents of the report of the Secretary- Generd of the United Nations on the question ofCyprus to this sefision of the General A~embly, because of wide divergencies in the positions of the parties, in actual practice there is still a deadlock in the talks between the representatives of the two Cyprus communities. 37. One cannot fail to be seriously alarmed by the attempts of certain external forces to use the unjustifiable delay in resolving the Cyprus problem and the absence of any settlement in the matter of relations between the Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus in order to impose on the Cypriots dedsions which are alien to them. These attempts, which have been undertaken in disregard-and let us say so straight out-even in violation of certain decisions of the Umted Nations, are in essence aimed at c1eciding the fate ofCyprus within the narrow circle of NATO States and at turning the island into a military beachhead of NATO in the eastern Mediterranean. 38. The Soviet Union, from the very beginning of the Cyprus crisis, has always consistently believed that the way to a settlement must be found on the bases of respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic ofCyprus. This has been the constant, unswerving policy of principle of the Soviet Union. This requires the withdrawal from the island of foreign troops, and the elimination of all foreign military bases. The Soviet Union has always insisted, and continues to insist, that the two national communiti~s of Cyprus be given the opportunity themselves to resolvJ the problems of the internal structure of their State, with due and proper account being taken of the interests and rights of:"oth the Greek and Turkish communities, without any outside intervention whatever. The Soviet Union takes a favourable view of the efforts aimed at restoring a spirit of mutual trust and co-operation between the two communities in Cyprus. We vigorously oppose any attempts to impose on the Cypriots from outside decisions which are alien to them, or to seek ways and means of bringing about a Cyprus settlement behind the backs of the people of Cyprus, in the narrow interests of any given countries or military blocs. It is precisely these principles, to which the Soviet Union has always fIrmly and unswervingly adhered with regard to a settlement cf the question ofCyprus, that constitute the key provisions of the decisions on the question of Cyprus that have been adopted by the United Nations. 39. The Soviet Union ~ fmnly in favour of an immediate and complete implementation of the United Nations resolutions on Cyprus. We are convinced that it is only on that basis that it will be possible to bring about the elimination of the existing hotbed of tension in Cyprus and 41. As was stated by the Minister for Foreign Mfairs of the USSR, A. A. Gromyko, at this session of the General Assembly: "No one will convince us that it is impossible to solve this problem without impairing the independence, sov- ereignty and territorial integrity ofCyprus. It is clear that there a most intricate knot has been tied, but given goodwill it can be untied by peaceful means. The Soviet Union is prepared to facilitate this, and our relevant proposais remain valid". {8th meeting, para. 144.}, 42. In the view of the USSR delegation, it is the duty of participants at this session of the General Assembly precisely to make an important ~ontribution to the cause of promoting a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem and to encourage immediate and total compliance with the decis:h:,11S adopted by the.United Nations 011 Cyprus. 43. In conclusion, I should like to state that the delegation of the Soviet Union will support draft resolution A/32/L.16 on the question ofCyprus. 44. Miss DEVER (Belgium) (interpretation from French): The nine member States of the European Community maintain close ties with the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, ties-which were forged by history and which our Community intends to strengthen for the benefit of all. The European Community and its nine member States take advantage of this debate to stress their interest in finding a solution of the problem of Cyprus. The problem indeed concerns three States associated with the European Com- munity. We therefore cannot be indifferent to the ri.C«s presented by the evolution of the situation in the island. 45. Bearing this in mind, we have always supported the efforts of the United Nations to find a lasting and just solution of the question of Cyprus. We continue to have great respect for the Secretary-General's ac~ons taken in accordance with the mandate given by our Organization. We take this opportunity to reiterate our support of him and his colleagues in this difficult task. We are also gratified that the parties to the dispute maintain their confidence in the Secretary-General. There can be no doubt that this is a precious asset for him and an essential one for the success ofhis mission. 48. Becaustl of our keen interest in a solution of the problem of Cyprus, we, like the rest of the international community, welcomed the agreement arrived at in Nicosia last February. The spirit and content of that agreement marked an important step towards the resumption of the dialogue between the two communities. The nine members of the Community are convinced that a just and lasting solution of the problem can only be found through negotiations between the two communities. By geography, history and economic interests, these two communities are compelled to live in political symbiosis. 49. We were pleased that proposals were made in Vienna on territorial and constitutional points. In our view, these could be a useful starting point from which to take up negotiations, but they should be f'Jllowed by concrete and substantive counter-proposals in the same constructive spirit that inspired the meeting in February. In common accord and on several occasions, we have encouraged the parties to renew their dialogue without prior formalities. We trust that this appeal will be heard and that negotiations will be resumed as quickly as possible. 50. We wish to recall here our commitment to the principles of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, in accordance with international law. We believe that the most important tltifig is to safeguard the interests and to ensure the well-being of the entire people of Cyprus,- who have lived for far too many years in uncert~tyand insecurity. We trust that the parties will decide at last to make the substantial and mutual concessions that are necessary for a just and lasting settlement.

The General Assembly is debating the Cyprus question for the fourth and, we trust, the last time. On this occasion we must express our disappointment at the fact tha~ no progress has been made in fulfJIling the aspirations of the intem3tional community for an end to the tragic conflict that in the last three years has assumed new dimensions. The humanitarian, political and social situation of tens of thousands of our Cypriot friends has deteriorated and the tragedy of those displaced, of th~ refugees and of those who are missing has grown more serious and more complex, while the threat to the unity, independence and sovereignty of the island has become clearer. Efforts have been made and good offices employed, yet no tangible or h~n:>eful progress has been achieved to date in the negotia- tions between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities under the auspices of the Secretary-General. 52. In the debate on the question of Cyprus we should, I believe, dwell on the recent past and recall General Assembly resolution 31/12, adopted on 12 November 1976; that is, nearly a year ago. That resolution was adopted by "a majority of 94 in favour to 1 against, with 27 abstentions. The preamble to that resolution expresses-as 53. While the preamble expresses the need to solve the problem of Cyprus without further delay by peaceful means in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the operative part of the resolution reaffirms resolutions 3212 (XXIX) of 1 Novem- ber 1974 and 3395 (XXX) of20 November 1975, demands their urgent implementation and calls upon all parties concerned to cd-operate fully with the Secretary-General with a view to initiating, through his good offices, a new series of negotiations between the representatives of the Greek"and Turkish communities in Cyprus. It also expresses the hope that the Security Council will consider appro- priate steps for the implementation of its resolution 365 (1974) of 13 December 1974 and requests the Secre- tary-General to report on the matter to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session. 54. The Secretary-General's report issued as document A/32/282 of 25 October 1977 indicates in paragraph 5 that, at the frrst round of the new series of talks held in Vienna during the frrst week of April, the discussions did not bridge the con'siderable gap between the two sides, because one party insisted on the territorial aspect in its proposal, while the other party emphasized the constitu- tional aspect in its proposal. Thus it was agreed that a new round of talks would be begun in Nicosia in May under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General in Cyprus, as it was hoped that this would make it possible to close the gap between the two sides. 55. We must recall that this new attempt was not successful despite international efforts to assist it by reconvening a second round of talks in Vienna. Regrettably, no new approach could be devised capable of getting the talks under way in view ofthe new developm~nts that took place at Varosha, the new quarter of Famagusta, without mentioning the constitutional questions raised follOWing the de~thofPresident Makarios. 56. My delegation believes that, whatever the events that occurred at Varosha, and whatever the importance of the constitutional questions that arose after the death of President Makarios, and in spite of the elements introduced by the territorial proposal of the Greek Cypriot side and the constitutional proposal of the Turkish Cypriot side, we should not be discouraged from making every conceivable effort to fmd a peaceful solution to the Cypriot crisis. We believe also that there is still time for the comments made by the Secretary-General in section V of his report to be placed in the right context of brotherhood, solidarity, tolerance and sympathy, for those sentiments have pre- vailed between the Greek and Turkish communities thmughout history and were manifested during the fIrSt . round oftalks in Vienna as well as during the later meetings ID Nicosia. 58. It is sufficient to glance at the map of the Middle East to understand the grave disqUiet felt by my own country and 94 other States Members of the United Nations, particularly the Arab countries of the Middle East, over the continuation ofthis crisis. The situation has become further complicated, and the longer we wait the more difficult it is to fmd a solution that will meet the aspirations of all the parties to the conflict in accordance with the decisions of the Security Council and the General ~ssembly~ 59. According to geologists and cartographers, the beauti- ful coast of Cyprus is an extension of the Allecam range on the north of the Syrian coastline. Therefore, Cyprus is only 60 miles away from my own country and is, to a large extent, somewhat like an aircraft carrier anchored in the eastern Mediterranean. This is not a surrealistic metaphor that I am deVising here, nor am I trying to draw an abstract painting; this is a true picture intended to defme the political events and realities ofthe Middle East. The foreign military bases located on the island have been used more than once as a springboard for supplying and refueling ships and planes to invude the Arab homeland. That was the case in 1956 during the tripartite attack on our sister State Egypt, and it was also the case during the perfidious Israeli aggression against Syria, Egypt and Palestine in 1967. 60. All members and representatives in the Assembly know full well how explosive the situation in the Middle East has become in the last few months and how serious the situation is. This explosive and grave situation has led Syria to take the initiative of calling for two special meetings, frrst, that of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the non-aligned States on 30 September [see A/32/255- 8/12410/ and the second was that of the Foreign Ministers of Islamic States, which took place on 3 October in New York [see A/32/261]. When those two meetings were held, the two parties in the Cypriot conflict participated in them-Cyprus as a non-aligned nation and Turkey as a member of the Islamic Conference. Thos~ two special meetings, as representatives will recall, adopted two declara- tions of a political nature which were extremely significant and were signed by 87 non-aligned countries and 43 Islamic nations. In them those countries expressed their concern over the explosive situation in the Middle East :me! advocated urgent and speeAJy measures to remedy it. 61. The serious situation in the Middle East, which is further deteriorating, led Egypt alSo to take the initiative of 62. The geographical proximity of Cyprus to the Arab States has always been and still is a determining factor that has led to friendship, co-operation, cultural, educational and economic exchanges between us throughout the course of centuries. Those ties are strengthened by feelings of fraternity that link the people of Cyprus with our own because of their cultural and denominational relations with both Turkey and Greece; and when Cyprus obtained independence in 1960 the neighbouring Arab States were the first to welcome and to greet that independence, and established political, economic and cultural, as well as diplomatic, relations and ties with the new Republic of Cyprus. In return, the people of Cyprus have expressed the same feelings of friendship as their Government towards their Arab friends and neighbours; that was eloquently demonstrated when the Government and people ofCyprus supported the struggle of the Arab people against racism, zionism and imperialism through the years and in many ways. The Arab people can never forget that it was the Republic of Cyprus and its people which continuously refused to allow their island to be used as a bridgehead for committing acts of aggression or attacking the neighbouring Arab States. 63. My delegation has drawn a brief outline of the strategic aspects of the picture so as to point out the close ties that link the security of the Arab countries with that of Cyprus. In fact, until the total sovereignty of the Cypriots over the entirety of their territory is assured, the security of the neighbouring Arab States will be threatened, particu- larly if events in that crucial region lead to the linking of Cyprus with military alliances and blocs. That would add to the already inherent danger ofthe existing military bases on the island. 64. My delegation believes that, as far as the Cypriot crisis is concerned, the Political Declaration adopted by the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non- Aligned Countries in Colombo contains the elements of a just and acceptable political solution. Indeed, the Colombo Conference once again ".. ~ reaffIrmed its solidarity with the Government apd penple of Cyprus and recalled General Assembly resolu- tion 3212 (XXIX)-endorsed by Security Council resolu- tion 365 (1974)-which continues to provide the princi- ples and the valid framework for the solution of the problem."4 It also recalled Security Council resolution 367 (1975), and General Assembly resolution 3395 (XXX) as well as the 6S. It also called for the initiation of urgent measures to ensure the safe return of all refugees to their homes. The Conference supported the continuation"of meaningful and constructive negotiations between the representatives ofthe Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities freely conducted on an equal footing, which should lead to a mutually satisfactory and freely acceptable agreement. It emphasized the need for the parties concerned to adhere to the agreements reached at all previous rounds of the talks held under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.6 66. The Conference further emphasized that all parties should refrain from taking unilateral action in the situation and deplored such action already taken, more particularly arbitrary actions to enforce a change in the demographic structure of the island in whatever way. It added that the situation brought about by such actions should not be allowed to influence the settlement of the Cyprus issue.7 67. In the light of all that I have said, my delegation would like to declare that its position in this useful debate is based on the follOWing principles: first, the feelings offriendship and brotherly good-neighbourliness that exist between Cyprus and the Arab States; secondly, the ties of friendship and the cordial relations that have bound us for centuries with Turkey and Greece~ to which the two Cypriot communities-Turkish and Greek-are linked; thirdly, the ties of political security between Cyprus and Syria; fourthly ~ the right of the Cypriot people, with its two communities~Turkish and Greek-to independence, sov- ereignty, national unity and territorial integrity; fifthly, the need to respect the non-alignment of Cyprus and to stand behind people in order to safeguard its non-alignment and, to that end, to eliminate all foreign military bases; and, sixthly, the requirement that the Cypriot people continue to exercise its right to self-determination, within the terms of the United Nations Charter. 68. The draft resolution submitted by Algeria, Guyana, India, Mall, Sri Lanka, and Yugoslavia [A/32/L.16] is thoroughly compatible with the principles I have just outlined. My delegation wishes to thank our friendly sister delegations, the sponsors of this draft resolution, on behalf of the non-aligned nations, and to assure them that we will vate for it.

The General Assembly is again taking up the question of Cyprus, with all its 5 Lima Programme for Mutual Assistance and Solidarity, adopted by the Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Non-Aligned C.ountnes, held at Lima from 25 to 30 August 1975. See document AI10217 and .corr.!. 71. The complexity of the question lies in facts known full well to all of us here. One cannot deny the political implications of the Cyprus issue, and we have particularly in mind the follow-up meetings of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe now being held in Belgrade, which is so close to the Eastern Mediterranean, where the situation on the island of Cyprus remains unchanged. 72. It.is for this forum of our Organization to reaffmn the framework of a settlement for Jhe question of Cyprus. By the same token, I wish to point out some aspects of the recent developments. 73. Early this year, we were greatly encouraged to learn of the outcome of the meetings between the late Archbishop Makarios and Mr. Rauf Denktat which appeared to be a highly important step in the right direction. The renewal of the intercommunal talks in Vienna last spring, and then in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, was followed with great expectations by the international community. The gaps between the positions of the parties directly involved proved to be too'wide to bridge dUring the later stages of the negotiations, but we are convinced that the com- munities will in the near future come to realize the vital importance of accommodating each other's legitimate interests. 74. Under the present circumstances, no rapid solution to the problem may be expected. What we believe, however, may indeed be realistically expected is that substantive ':icgotiations will be carried on if the parties are to reach a viable settlement reflecting their aspirations. A sound basis for the solution of the Cyprus question is provided by the numerous resolutions of the United Nations, all of which have been consistently supported by my delegation. . 75. It is the well-considered judgement of the interna- tional community that a comprehensive solution of the problems existing between the two communities cannot be imposed by any outside Power. In this regard, we continue to oppose vigorously any solution intended to be imposed on the long-suffering Cypriot people. We fIrmly believe that selfish efforts motivated by the narrow-minded interests of economic groupings or military-orientated organizations, or by strategic arrangements, are doomed to failure. 76. I should like to take this opportunity to reaffmn our position on the question of Cyprus, which has been, and continues to be, one of unswelVing full support for the non-aligned Republic of Cyprus. The settlement of the question of Cyprus must be based on safeguarding the in~ependence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,' as well as the non-aligned status, of the Republic of CYl?rus. The 77. We continue to give full support also to the framework established by United Nations resolutions, which provide a sound and appropriate basis for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Confidence should be placed in the two com- munities, as has been stated repeatedly by the States Members of our Organization, and they should be urged to seek a viable settlement of their outstanding disputes. We also deem it essential that the outcome ofour deliberations should be such as not to assist in widening the gap between the positions of the ethnic communities of the Cypriot people but rather to encourage them to enter into substantive negotiations without undue delay" 78. At the same time, my delegation firmly believes that this Assembly should give due consideration to the reason- able proposal of the Soviet Union for the convening of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the question of Cyprus, thereby giving an impetus to the process of negotiations. 79. My Government follows with sympathy the dedicated efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and we are somewhat encouraged by his assurance, reflected in his recent report to the General Assembly, that he will continue to exert his best efforts to promote the under- taking of substantive negotiations with a view to attaining the objectives set out in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. 80. May I conclude by quoting the relevant part of the statement made by the Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs during this year's general debate. He said: "We must seek a settlement that will guarantee the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non- alignment of the Republic of Cyprus, with due regard to the interests and equality of the two communities." [24th meeting, para. 53.J In accordance with this policy of the Hungarian Govern- ment, we are ready to co-operate with the General Assembly in order to reach a decision that will result in a constructive approach to the settlement of the question of Cyprus. In that spirit we equally support the draft resolution submitted on behalf ofthe non-aligned countries in document A/32/L.16.

As the Assembly proceeds in the autumn of 1977 with its continuing debate on the question of Cyprus it t is undeniable that an 82. My delegation has always tried, in the General Assembly and in other bodies of the United Nations in which it has been called upon to express its views on this matter, to form a clear and concise assessment of the situation in Cyprus and to do so as objectively as possible in order to assist the Secretary-General and the parties and to help the Organization to formulate a coherent policy. As a guiding principle in this respect, let me reiterate today the deep and continuing interest of my country in the fate and the future of Cyprus and its communities. Our attitude on the question ofCyprus is based above all on our unwavering support for the maintenance of the independence, sov- ereignty and territorial integrity of that Republic. This commitment is motivated, first and foremost, by our profound belief that respect for the independence, sov- ereignty and territorial integrity of nations, large and small, forms one of the corner-stones of international law and' order and thus of contemporary world society. But our commitment to the independence, sovereignty and terri- torial integrity of Cyprus is motivated, furthermore, by the conviction that an independent Cyprus is an important element of stability in the region, the political texture and balance of which is perhaps more delicate than those of many other regions of the world. 83. We have read with attention the report of the Secretary-General [A/32/282J dated 25 October 1977, which clearly reflects the manifold difficulties and obstacles that lie in the way of a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus conflict. We note with regret that high-level meetings between the leaders of the two communities at the beginning of this year-one ofthem held under the auspices of the Secretary-General, and a further round ofintercom- munal talks in Vienna last spring-did not lead to any progress on the p<?litical, geographical and constitutional aspects of the subJect as a whole. If one were pessimistic, one might speak of a deadlock on these questions. Thus it was also impossible to resume discussions on humanitarian matters. The lack ofprogress on the humanitarian questions is one aspect that particularly worries my delegation. Indeed, the fate of a very considerable number ofCypriots still missing as a result of the 1974 hostilities remains unclear. This causes grief and suffering to a great many families on the island. 84. Let me recall in this context General Assembly resolution 3450 (XXX) of 9 December 1975 which, inter alia: "Requests the Secretary-General to exert every effort, in close co-operation with the International Committee of 86. My delegation will support pertinent moves in the Assembly's Thirc~ Committee, wpere the question of miss- ing persons will be dealt with extensively. 87. As it seems difficult to achieve progress in the humanitarian fi,eld, it can hardly be surprising that other and more political aspects of the question of Cyprus have remained without change too. Despite the efforts under- taken by the Secretary-General and his Special Representa- tive, it has not proved possible to reach the stage where an effective negotiating process can further evolve, and indeed, it is not o,nly the Secretary-General and his Special Representative who have given special efforts to this problem. 88. Let me recall in this context that the Council of Europe-an important regional organization, of which the three countries immediately concerned are members-has repeatedly undertaken efforts to help in the solution ofthe problem. The Council's Political Affairs Committee, whose Rapporteur is Mr~ Franz Karasek of Austria, a member of the Austrian- Parliament, has sent special missions to the island on behalf of the Council. This Committee and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe itself have on more than one occasion appealed to the parties directly concerned: "•.• actively to f~cilitate and support the resumption of intercornmunal talks under the auspices of the Secre- tary·General of the United Nations, with .the aim of reaching a settlement freely negotiated between the Greek Cyprjot and Turkish Cypriot communities." 89. Thanks to the continuing good offices of the Secre- tary-General, it was possible at least to maintain a narrow basis for further negotiations between the representatives of the communities, fragile as that basis might appear to be from time to time. But we strongly believe-and this has been pointed out by more than one speaker in this debate-that only a rapid resumption of meaningful, sub- stantive negotiations, which try as far as possible to steer clear of the tricky parts of the procedural obstacles, can bring about the lasting solution which we so urgently need. 90. In this context 'I should not like to miss the opportunity to pay a special tribute to the members of UNFICYP, who have again performed an outstanding job under circumstances often difficult and adverse. And I should like to include all members of the Force in this tribute. 91. t The continuing presence of the peace-keeping contin- gents has averted breaches of the cease-fire agreement of 1974, as w~ll as a new outbreak ofhostilities. Without that Force, which has gained so much merit-though, unfor- tunately, its rewards have sometimes been meagre-in the 93. While there is now quasi·unanimity in recognizing the indispensa1?i1ity of the Force in Cyprus, and while the Security Council, twice a year, continues to renew its mandate, we fmd'it regrettable and hardly comprehensible that not all parts of the international community have shown readhless to contribute towards the relatively small cost of maintaining an efficient operation without inter- ruption. 94. While in 1974 the Assembly unanimously adopted resolution 3212 (XXIX), which in its paragraph 8 would even permit a further strengthening of the Peace-keeping Force, the number of States which since the inception of the Force have made fmancial contributions remains stagnant at some 60 countries. I should like also to mention that most troop-contributing countries-and mine is no exception-bear a considerable percentage of the cost involved. This situation is, to say the least, unsatisfactory, and the Secretary-General himself has warned on many occasions that UNFICYP might well one day find itself unable to continue to function for lack offunds. 95. Let me point out here, therefore, that any operational unit established in the common interest of maintaining international peace and security should be fmanced on an international basis. Austria, therefore, commends 2 recent series of approaches made by the Secretary-General to Governments requesting them to consider favourably in- creasing their voluntary contributions or to begin making contributions if they did not do so before. A frrst response to these appeals by a number of Governments is encourag- ing for a broader defrayment of costs for this important peace-~eeping Force. 96. If, however, no remedy should be found to improve this state of affairs, especially fmancial affaits, UNFICYP might be forced one day to seek organizational ways of adapting jtselfto this situation. ' 97. Let me say, in conclusion, that we are fully aware that the problems involved in a permanent and just settlement of the problem of Cyprus are complex, to say the least. Certainly the events of July and August 1974, of which we have painful memories, and their consequences, are the origin of the present crisis. But who could be unaware of the fact that a situation of crisis, a situation of communal tension and unrest, a situation of suffering and an acute sense of injustice prevailed long before that date, and the ~versal of the situation by force has only resulted in new suffering, in new tension, in new difficulties on tl!e path to 98. I believe, therefore, that our efforts must be inten- sified chiefly to improve the conditions of those most directly concerned: the people of Cyprus. It would seem logical, therefore, that every effort should be made by the representatives of the two communities to resume the negotiations on a basis of equality, without external interference, at the earliest possible moment, so that those two communities may determine together their common fate and may work out together the many intricate problems that have to be faced, such as the constitutional arrangements necessary to satisfy the legitimate aspirations of both communities to a stable political future. 99. We do not underestimate the considerable effort, political imagination and goodwill and tenacious belief in the virtue of negotiation that will be necessary to come to a new start. Unilateral acts, partial solutions or the repetition of sterile accusations, cannot, however, be considered a useful contribution to this process. The general framework for future negotiations is now provided by the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, regard- less of whether this Assembly adds a new resolution to this body of already existing decisions. We should like to appeal to all Governments, and in particular to those directly concerned, to give proof of moderation, to make new and positive contributions and to co-operate in a spirit of compromise and conciliation. Such an attitude should make possible the creation of an atmosphere of renewed con- fidence that would be conducive to the rapid and un- hampered resumption of the intercommunal talks and the promotion of true peace and justice in connexion with an issue so fundamental for international peace and security. 100. It is in that spirit, and in a spirit of profound sympathy for the people and the communities of Cyprus, that my delegation expresses the hope that this year the General Assembly will be able to create the momentum so urgently required for a solution of the many problems facing the Republic ofCyprus.

This is the fourth consecutive year in which the United Nations General Assembly has discussed the ques- tion of Cyprus. However, the issue remains unresolved, and the situation there remains turbulent and unstable. Like large numbers of other third-world countries, China is concerned about trJs state of affairs and has deep sympathy for the sufferings of the Cypriot people. Cyprus, Turkey and Greece are all friends of China. In spite of the differences of one kind or another that exist between the Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus and between Greece and Turkey, in our view their fundamental interests are the same, at present their common points are of major importance. They all stand for ,the maintenance of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of 102. Reviewing past history, everyone can see -that the Cyprus issue arose as a result of the prolonged imperialist colonial rule and its policy of divide and rule. The rivalry between the two super-Powers and their intervention there are the root-cause why the question has in recent years developed to such a serious degree and has remained unresolved for so long. The rivalry between the two super-Powers extends to all parts of the globe, the focus of their rivalry being in Europe. Situated in an important position in the eastern Mediterranean in close proximity to southern Europe, Cyprus is a target of fierce contention betwen the two super-Powers. 103. It was against this background that the Cyprus crisis erupted in 1974. Pulling the wires behind the scenes, one super-Power stirred up trouble in an attempt to seize the opportunity to control Cyprus by one single move and thus strengthen it~ strategic position in the Mediterranean. But it suffered from being too smart and made itself most passive. The other super-Power, which has long cast a covetous eye on Cyprus, took the Cyprus crisis as a golden opportunity to make a break-through in the eastern Mediterranean and southern Europe. Over the past three years or more, this super-Power has put on all kinds of ugly performances around the Cyprus issue. Adding fuel to the rue, it has done its utmost to exploit the differences between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to sow discord in their relations. Using double-faced tactics, it has tried by every possible means to sabotage the intercommunal talks. It has also repeatedly and tediously peddled a variety of sugges- tions and~ proposals for "internationalizing" the Cyprus question in an attempt to legalize its interference in the affairs of Cyprus. All its doings have seriously damaged the fundamental interests of the two communities of Cyprus and evoked their increasingly strong resentment. Through the experience of their own struggle, the people ofCyprus, who have suffered deeply from prolonged imperialist rule and super-Power rivalry, have come to realize clearly that it is imperative to oppose super-Power interference and infIltration in order to maintain the independence, sov- ereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and to a~hieve a reasonable settlement of the differences between the two communities. 104. The Chinese Government and people have profound sentiments of friendship towards the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and we have always taken a principled position in regard to the Cyprus question. We firmly maintain that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus must be respected. We strongly condemn and ftrmly oppose the super-Powers' interferenca in the affairs of Cyprus. We sincerely hope that the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and the parties concerned, taking to heart the over-all interests of unity against imperialism and he- gemonism, will do away with super-Power interference and sabotage and gradually eliminate their differences through patient negotiations on an equal footing and in a spirit of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation so as to

This year once again the General Assembly is considering the question ofCyprus. This question is of great concern to my delegation, because the present situation contains within it elements of tension which are liable to disturb peace and stability in the Mediterranean region. Further- more, the human dimensions of this conflict, particularly foll<!wing the tragic events of the past few years, have added to our concern. It 18 regrettable that in the past year there has been no progress towards a just and fmal settlement of the question. 106. This does not mean that our Secretary-General has not performed the task entrusted to him; quite the contrary, the Secretary-General has spared neither his efforts nor his time and, on behalf of my delegation, I shouid like to express to him our great satisfaction at his tireless efforts. I should also like to express our gratitude to his Special Representative, Mr. Perez de Cuellar, who has carried out some important work with his accustomed courtesy and with great diplomatic skill. 107. In spite of certain encouraging developments, such as the resumption of talks between the two ethnic com- munities, the problem of Cyprus remains untouched. However, we should not allow ourselves to be disr.:ouraged. Indeed, there is a broad consensus among the Members of the Organization on some fundamental principles which should constitute a basis for ajust solution to the problem. One of these principles is that any solution must be based upon respect for the independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Another principle, .which bu~tresses the former and supplements it, concerns the guarantees of the rights of the two communities, the Turkish and the Greek, in the isiand by appropriate means. Furthermore, the General Assembly has said that negotiations between the com- munities should begin and continue with a view to achi.eving a mutually acceptable settlement. It is en- couraging to note that the two States directly concerned in the question, Greece and Turkey, approve all the points I havejust mentioned. 108. My delegation has always maintained those principles and has always been in favour of continuing intercommunal talks. The fact that the negotiatiorls between the two communities held over the last year with the valuable support of our Secretary-Genera~ have not had positive results has not changed the position we have held ever since this item was placed on the agenda of the General A§sembly. We continue to believe that an objective con- sideration of the Cyprus situation is only possible ifwe take account of all the complexity of the situation. We must refrain from attributing to any of the parties responsibility for the failure of the negotiations. On the contrary, we must adopt a bat~ced attitude which can win the approval ofthe two ethnic communities in the island. 109. Our deliberations and the decision which will crown them should be aimed at unblocking the present deadlock, 1.0 whom once again I should like to express our gratitude, to continue to give his assistance to the parties in the negotiations I have referred to, and we hope that this time the resumption of talks between the two communities will fmally lead to positive results. ~ 110. Mr. ABDEL MEGUID (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabicj: The question of Cyprus has always given, and still gives, rise to great interest and concern among the Egyptian people and in their Government, since we have had links to the island by bonds of fraternity and friendship for many centuries. When one thinks of the history of the civilization of the Middle East and of the eastern Mediterranean, where Cyprus occupies a unique strategic position, one inevitably must recall the close ties that link the peoples of the region, peoples which have always made and still make significant and remarkable philosophical, cultural and material con- tributions to the different phases of human civilization. 111. Members will therefore understand why my country has followed so closely the development of events in Cyprus, which have had and still have an impact on the security and peace ofthe region. 112. As far as the Cypriot question is concerned, Egypt has always taken and still takes into account certain principles and considerations, the most important of which are the following. First of all, it is extremely important that the security and safety of States be ensured, that t~ere be no interference in their domestic affairs and that the inadmissibility of the resort to force against peaceful small nations be recognized. Secondly, the entire people must have restored to them the rights that were wrested from them: the territories of others cannot be occupied by force. Thirdly, it is imperative that the ties of solidarity among the peoples of the non-aligned nations be consolidated and the rights ofthose peoples to defend themselves reaffirmed. They should be able to count on the solidarity of their friends so that they can achieve the aims of non-alignmentt namely, to establish a new order of international r~lations which will respond to the aspirations of mankin~ for peaceful coexistence between large and small nations on a just basis and so ordered as to safeguard the right of small nations· to an independent and prosperous life. Fourthly, Egypt further believes that the Cypriot people has the right in all freedom to decide on the system and regime that it desires and that that people should be allowed to exercise its right, without any foreign interfereJlce, !n their domestic affairs. Fifthly, the territorial integrity of all States must be safeguarded, as well as the unity of their peoples. Any effort at separation or division must be rejected. Egyptian foreign policy is predicated upon these ideas. . 113. In accordance with what I have just said, Egypt has called for the immediate implementation of the General Assembly resolutions adopted during the twenty-ninth, thirtieth and thirty-frrst sessions, in which we called for an immediate withdrawal of foreign military forces from Cyprus and for the return of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes in safety. These resolutions also 114. Egypt cannot but appeal to the parties to resume their talks in a constructive spirit and with a sincere desire to arrive at a peaceful and just solution that will safeguard the rights of the two communities, allow them to live in peace without any threat being proffered to their national heritage and guarantee respect for the unity of Cyprus. 115. This year the people of Cyprus have lost a great leader and a unique rIghter, namely, the late President, Archbishop Makarios, whose death plunged the Egyptian people into sorrow; but that loss must not in any way deter the efforts at fmding an equitable solution of the problem besetting the island. 117. We also feel that there is another problem that calls for equally urgent measures to help relieve it in order to pave the way for the realization of that equitable solution. That is the matter of the refugees in Cyprus. The refugees continue to suffer since they were evicted from their homes and deprived of their possessions. Egypt believes that Cyprus has abundant possibilities for ensuring the material ease and well-being of the members of both communities on the island, and therefore we still hope that a peaceful solution can be found to the problem so that all Cypriots can lead fruitful, happy and prosperous lives free of any fear for the future. 118. In conclusion, I should like to pay a tribute to Mr. Kdrt Waldheim for the indefatigable efforts he has made and continues to make to facilitate negotiations between the representatives of the two Cypriot com- munities. We trust that he will continue in his efforts, with the support of the General Assembly, so that the Cypriot communities will return to the negotiating table The meetingrose at 1.15 p.m.