Speech of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Demetris Christofias at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York
Mr President,
I congratulate you on your election to the Presidency of the 66th Session of the General Assembly. I express support of the Cypriot delegation and I wish you every success in fulfilling your duties.
Mr President,
Over the last six months, we have witnessed historic changes in the wider region of the Middle East and North Africa, a region which is very close to Cyprus. A popular movement has developed in this region with the aim of implementing fundamental, democratic reforms. The reforms constitute a sovereign affair of the peoples and we hope that they are realised peacefully without bloodshed and for the benefit of the peoples themselves, through political dialogue and with the support of the international community.
We, the international community, should offer this support, while respecting the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the member states of the United Nations Organization.
Mr President,
The Republic of Cyprus has experienced violence and we still suffer from its consequences. Cyprus is still enduring the effects of the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974 and the ongoing occupation.
The Cyprus problem is first and foremost a problem of invasion and occupation, a problem of violation of international law and the human rights of Cypriot citizens
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