One month after gaining independence, the Republic of Cyprus became the 69th member of the United Nations.
Two years later, on June 7, 1962, Archbishop Makarios addressed the UN General Assembly, making history. It was the first official speech by a Cypriot president before the international community.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“We believe that humanity’s hopes for world peace, justice, and freedom lie with this organization.”
Eleven years later, his hopes have been spectacularly and nightmarishly dashed for Cyprus. A few months after the tragedy of the Turkish invasion, Makarios, in a speech focused on a single theme, lambasted Ankara, holding the United Nations accountable for its responsibilities.
“It is not only we who are anxious to see what this Organization (the UN) can do and how it can effectively protect one of its smaller members. I am certain that many other countries are also anxiously awaiting the answer.”
August 1977. Makarios passes away, and Spyros Kyprianou succeeds him as President. In March 1978, during his first appearance at the General Assembly, Kyprianou wagged his finger at the UN, questioning the organization’s ability to enforce the rule of law.
“The consequences (of the Turkish occupation), which have not yet been remedied despite repeated appeals and resolutions by the United Nations and from which our people continue to suffer in an unprecedented tragedy, are one of the most glaring examples.”
In 1983, a few days after the illegal declaration of the pseudo-state, he addressed the international community in dramatic terms from the rostrum of the General Assembly.
“I appeal to all of you to do everything in your power to save Cyprus and, at the same time, the course of the United Nations and of humanity.”
“In Cyprus, we, too, dream of the day when the military wall of separation will finally be torn down, so that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can move forward hand in hand.”
September 28, 1990
President Vassiliou was succeeded by Clerides, Papadopoulos, Christofias, and Anastasiades.
Speaking at last year’s 80th General Assembly, Nikos Christodoulides urged the Turkish President:
“To end the occupation through negotiations for a comprehensive solution that will reunite Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. Always in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, the values, and the principles of EU law. This is the only way.”
In his speech tonight, the President of the Republic is expected to respond to the renewed appeal made by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his speech last night, calling for the international community to recognize the pseudo-state, develop political and economic relations with it, and lift the “isolation” of the Turkish Cypriots.
In this new era
Over the decades, television went color, and year after year, technology gave the world more and more scenes, moments, and details that made all the difference.
From Makarios’s single-shot scenes, we moved on to the perpetually empty Turkish seats, as well as the departures of Turkish diplomats from the chamber the moment the Cypriot President took the Assembly podium…
In 2011, the camera “captured” then-government spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou taking a photo of Dimitris Christofias at the podium.
A few years later, members of the Anastasiades family made their appearance in the shots, while in 2018, photographers captured the handshake between Erdoğan and the Cypriot president that caused such a stir.
In 2023, Nikos Christodoulides chose to remain in the room during Erdoğan’s speech, in an effort to send a clear message that our side earnestly desires a return to the negotiating table.
Watch the report by Iakovos Iakovou:
