S/PV.2533 Security Council

May I thank you, Mr. President, and, through you, the other members of the Council for agreeing to my request to address the Council today. May I also congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for 27. In his report the Secretary-General describes the continued deployment of UNFICYP as essential. The 28. The history of Cyprus has been bedevilled by intransigence and lack of trust on both sides. We have seen this manifested already in the current debate. The Australian Government believes that, despite recent setbacks, the best hope for progress towards a ‘settlement in Cyprus lies in renewed discussions and contacts, with the assistance of the Secretary-General, between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities which would take into account the legitimate concerns of both. Moderation from all parties is an essential requirement at this difficult and delicate stage, if there is to be progress towards a solution in Cyprus. i 29. The Security Council has a clear responsibility in the current situation. We ask the Council to make clear to the parties theessential need for co-operation, communication and genuine negotiation, and we call on the parties themselves to heed such a call. Only then will peace and stability return to the island of Cyprus, which for too long has known too little of both. 30. The PRESIDENT [interpretationfrom Russian]: The next speaker is the representative of Yugoslavia; I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement.

First of all, Sir, I should like to congratulate you warmly on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. As the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, you are well known at the United Nations for your wisdom and knowledge and for the high esteem in which we your colleagues hold you. We are gratified that so eminently qualified a person should be occupying the presidency of the Council for this month. I wish also to express our great admiration for the way in which Mr. Kravets of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic presided over the Council in the month of April. 32. At the core of the situation in Cyprus currently being considered by the Security Council is the unity, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus, a Member of the United Nations and a founding member of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. Moreover, this situation is a component part of the sensitive region of the eastern Mediterranean and of the uncertainties, challenges to peace and threats to international security prevailing there.’ 33. It may be recalled here that, immediately after the unilateral proclamation of independence in November last year, the Presidency of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia issued a statement to the effect, inter ah, that it had considered the latest situation 35. It may also be recalled that the-heads of State or Government of non-aligned countries at their Seventh Conference, held at New Delhi in March last year, reiterated full solidarity with andsupport for the people and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and also reaffirmed respect for that country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and non-alignment. They expressed deep concern over the fact that part of the Republic of Cyprus continued under foreign occupation, and they demanded the immediate withdrawal of all occupation forces as an essential basis for the solution of the Cyprus problem. At that time they pointed out that the defucto situation created by force of-arms and unilateral actions should not in any way affect the solution of the problem. 36. In its resolution 541 (1983) of November last year the Security Council, inter ah, considered the unilateral declaration of independence invalid and called for its withdrawal. It requested the Secretary-General to pursue his mission of good offices in order to achieve the earliest possible progress towards a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus and called upon the parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General. It also called upon all States and the two communities in Cyprus to refrain from any action that might exacerbate the situation. That call of the Security Council was supported by the international community at large. It was strongly hoped at that time that it would bring about restraint and the reversal and withdrawal of the unilateral proclamation of independence purporting to create an independent State of Northern Cyprus. It was also hoped that the efforts of the Secretary-General would pave the way to dialogue and a negotiated settlement. 37. The Members of the United Nations withheld recognition of the new self-proclaimed entity. However, the Security Council’s call was not heeded by the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community, and they have taken measures in direct contravention of resolution 541(1983) and the efforts of the Secretary-General. Thus another link has been added to the long chain of faits accomplis. 44. However, the efforts of the Secretary-General can have meaningful effect only if they have the undivided and unambiguous support of all and if all parties involved show political will and co-operation. This thus implies the need for the most urgent cessation of all acts leading to the partition of the Republic of Cyprus and an end to the occupation of a part of the country. This also implies the cessation of all acts contrary to Council . resolution 541 (1983), which calls for the withdrawal of the declaration by the Turkish Cypriot authorities that purports to create an independent State in Northern Cyprus. 45. We consider of particular importance urgent action by the Security Council, aimed at providing a peaceful solution on the basis of the adopted resolutions, in order to prevent any further deterioration, to re-establish the unity and territorial-integrity of the Republic of Cyprus by peaceful means and to lend its full support to the sovereignty, independence and nonalignment of the Republic of Cyprus. . 46. The PRESIDENT [interpretation>om Russian]: I should like to inform members of the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic containing a request to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite the representative of that country to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter-and rule 37 of the provisional rules,of procedure. . 41. There are no questions we know of that cannot be resolved through dialogue, and surely none can be resolved in the long run by force, going against the General Assembly and the Security Council in particular, and against the standards of the international community. A’t the invitation of the President, Mr. Al-Atassi (Syrian Arab Republic), took the place reservedfor him at the side of the Council chamber. 42. It may be appropriate to stress again, at this stage, that the solution to the problem of Cyprus can be based only on the withdrawal of foreign forces from the Republic of Cyprus and on cessation of occupation and of foreign interference. The presence of foreign troops threatens to spread the conflict by creating opportunities for the involvement of other factors. No amount of foreign troops will help, and an increase in foreign military presence will jeopardize even more the peace and security of the region. 47. The PRESIDENT [interpretation from Russian]: I now call on Mr. Al-Atassi to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. 48. Mr. AL-ATASSI (Syrian Arab Republic) [interpretation from Arabic]: At the outset, Sir, allow me to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We are convinced that your experience, ability and skill will lead to success in .your conduct of the Council’s work. You represent a friendly country, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which has always supported peoples threatened by aggression or struggling for independence and freedom. We should also like to voice our admiration for the exemplary way in which your predecessor, Mr. Kravets, the representative of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, conducted the work of the Council last month. 43. Further active engagement of the Secretary-General is invaluable. His readiness to discharge the mission of good offices entrusted to him by the Security Council is extremely welcome. His most recent report on the situation testifies to the fact that he is taking into account the interests of the two Cypriot communities, on the basis of his extensive knowledge of the situation and the possibilities for a political solution of the problem. His services and initiatives are indispensable in this new situation, particularly since maintenance of a continuous process of communication and negotiations 49. Our delegation, having studied with interest the report of the Secretary-General, published as docu- 50. The Syrian Arab Republic has high hopes that it will be possible to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the problem of Cyprus based primarily on the maintenance of the territorial integrity and independence of the island and its non-aligned status, and also on the basis of respect for and implementation of Security Council resolutions. In that connection, as the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Hafez al Assad, stated at the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi in March 1983, during the consideration of major international questions: “This. neighbouring country, Cyprus, is suffering from partition, which has caused great suffering to the people of that country. We favour a peaceful solution, which would unite it and enable its people to recover its national unity and total independence and to coexist and co-operate with its neighbours and maintain its non-aligned status. We also favour negotiations between representatives of the two Cypriot communities under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in keeping with United Nations resolutions.” 51. The fact that Cyprus is a friendly neighbouring non-aligned country explains Syria’s interest in the situation in that island. Furthermore, this concern emanates from Syria’s obligations vis-d&s the Charter of the United Nations and the purposes and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement. 52. The concern shown by our country over the prolongation of this problem is a sincere and sound reflection of this position. The security situation in the Medi- Litho in United Nations, New York 00300 90-61313~Januq 1993-2.050 53. Finally, my delegation would like to express its concern over the fact that it has not been possible thus far to resolve the problem of Cyprus in accordance with United Nations resolutions. We believe that the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions adopted since 1974 are a unanimously accepted basis for achieving a solution to .the problem of Cyprus. I think in particular of General Assembly resolution 3212 (XXIX), which contains, inter alia, the intercommunal negotiating principle in the context of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus and of non-intervention in its internal affairs. 54. My delegation reaffirms that we must continue to make greater international efforts. We very much hope that the Council will achieve a just solution to the problem of Cyprus and urge the two Cypriot communities to resume intercommunal negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General, on the constructive basis accepted by both parties. These negotiations should take place on a basis of equality, in the context of freedom and the comprehensive proposals made by both sides to achieve an agreement guaranteeing their basic, legitimate rights. These negotiations should also take place with respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and non-aligned status of Cy-, prus, as well as being in keeping with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.