Every September, New York takes center stage in international diplomacy, as the leaders of the United Nations member states gather for the high-level week of the General Assembly. For the Republic of Cyprus, participation in this process over the past six decades has been a significant step toward international representation and the promotion of Cyprus’s positions.  

On the occasion of the 81st General Assembly, which begins its proceedings today, and the participation of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, CYPE looks back on Cyprus’s historical presence at the UN and the way in which the General Assembly has contributed, through its debates and resolutions, to shaping the international approach to the Cyprus issue. 

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the Organization’s principal policymaking body. It consists of all member states and provides a unique forum for multilateral discussions on a wide range of international issues covered by the United Nations Charter. Each of the 193 member states of the United Nations has one equal vote. 

The General Assembly was established under the United Nations Charter, which was signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945, and entered into force on October 24 of that same year. 

It holds its regular sessions from September through December of each year and then meets as needed. It discusses specific issues through special agenda items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions. 

The General Assembly also makes important decisions regarding the UN, such as the appointment of the Secretary-General, upon the recommendation of the Security Council, the election of non-permanent members of the Security Council, and the adoption of the UN budget. 

The initial number of member states was 51—the states that participated in the founding of the UN. The composition of the General Assembly, however, changed dramatically over the following decades. The process of decolonization following World War II led to the independence of dozens of countries in Asia and Africa, which subsequently joined the UN. 

From Independence to International Representation

The Republic of Cyprus became a member of the United Nations on September 20, 1960, shortly after gaining independence. Admission was granted by General Assembly Resolution 1489 (XV). 

Since joining the UN, the Republic of Cyprus has participated as a full and equal member state in the General Assembly, which has historically been one of the key international forums where the Republic of Cyprus has presented its positions on the Cyprus issue, its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Cypriot diplomacy has leveraged its participation in the Assembly to secure international support for its positions and to keep the Cyprus issue on the United Nations agenda. 

The Republic of Cyprus participated in the General Assembly for the first time in 1960. Zinon Rossides, Cyprus’s permanent representative to the United Nations at the time, addressed the 15th General Assembly on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus. 

In his speech, he noted that Cyprus, as one of the countries that had recently joined the United Nations, was approaching this general debate with all the hesitation of a newcomer, expressing the hope that the country will be able to bring a fresh perspective and objectivity to the approach and consideration of global issues. “We also bring with us our faith in the United Nations and our unwavering commitment to the cause of peace, based on justice and freedom, the very same freedom and justice for which the people of Cyprus are fighting and have long fought,” he said. 

The first official address by a President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, before the UN General Assembly in New York, took place on June 7, 1962. 

In his speech, he noted that Cyprus, from the very first moment of its independence, had proclaimed its unwavering faith in the United Nations and its commitment to the Organization’s principles and purposes. Among other things, he expressed support for the application of self-determination for all peoples, in accordance with the Charter, and for every peaceful measure aimed at eliminating colonialism. The people of Cyprus, he said, having been freed from foreign rule, harbors a natural sense of solidarity with all peoples struggling for the dignity of national independence. 

He also expressed the Republic of Cyprus’s support for all measures aimed at the rapid implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Resolution 1514 (XV)), which, he said, Cyprus had strongly supported. 

For the Republic of Cyprus, the General Assembly is of particular importance. Since Cyprus joined the UN in 1960, it has served as a key forum for international representation and diplomatic action. In particular, since 1974, General Assembly resolutions have helped keep the Cyprus issue on the international agenda and have established fundamental principles regarding the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. 

On October 14, 1965, then-Foreign Minister Spyros Kyprianou, in his address to the 20th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, denounced the undermining of the Republic of Cyprus by foreign powers. He noted that, since December 1963, various attempts had been made to keep the Cyprus issue outside the framework of the United Nations, but ultimately the Government of Cyprus succeeded in bringing this issue before the United Nations, despite the pressure exerted against such a course of action. 

Noting that various efforts have been made to satisfy the interests of other countries at the expense of the people of Cyprus, Mr. Kyprianou stated that the Cyprus problem must be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the people of Cyprus and based on the principles of the United Nations Charter. Cyprus, he said, is a fully sovereign and independent state—an equal member of the United Nations—and that no one has the right to violate or restrict its sovereignty and independence. 

Three months after the Turkish invasion, in October 1974, President Makarios addressed the 29th General Assembly. In his speech, he characterized the Turkish invasion as an international crime and called on the international community to support Cyprus’s struggle to preserve its independence, unity, and territorial integrity. He expressed the view that the solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on the implementation of the Charter of the United Nations and its resolutions. 

He further denounced the fact that while Security Council Resolution 353 of July 20, which, as he noted, set the framework for a peaceful resolution of the problem and called on the parties concerned to begin negotiations, was accepted by Turkey, yet Turkey itself has shown no respect for it. 

General Assembly Resolutions on Cyprus 

The UN has been addressing various aspects of the Cyprus issue since 1963, with both the Security Council and the General Assembly playing significant roles. The General Assembly’s resolutions have emphasized principles of the United Nations Charter, such as respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states. 

In 1965, in Resolution 2077 (XX), the General Assembly stated that the Republic of Cyprus, as an equal member of the United Nations, is entitled, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to enjoy, and must enjoy, full sovereignty and full independence without any foreign interference or harassment, and calls upon all States to refrain from any intervention against it. 

Following the coup d’état and the Turkish invasion of 1974, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 3212 (XXIX) in November 1974, entitled “Question of Cyprus.” The resolution was adopted with 117 votes in favor and no votes against. In it, the General Assembly calls upon all States to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and non-alignment of the Republic of Cyprus and to refrain from any act or intervention directed against it. It further states that it considers that all refugees should return to their homes in safety and calls on the parties concerned to take urgent measures to that end. 

This resolution marked a significant milestone in the General Assembly’s approach to the Cyprus issue. Other resolutions followed, including Resolution 3395 (XXX), in which it reaffirms the urgent need to continue efforts aimed at the effective implementation, in all its parts, of Resolution 3212 (1974), which was reaffirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 365 (1974), and, among other things, calls upon all parties to refrain from unilateral actions contrary to Resolution 3212, including changes to the demographic composition of Cyprus. 

However, it is important to distinguish the role of the General Assembly from that of the Security Council. The General Assembly may articulate policy positions and make recommendations, but it does not possess the same enforcement powers as the Security Council. 

However, its resolutions carry great weight and can reaffirm the principles of the Charter and the international community’s stance. 

These were followed by Resolutions 3395 (1975), 31/12 (1976), 32/15 (1977), 33/15 (1978), 34/30 (1979), and 37/253 (1983). 

Resolution 37/253, adopted on May 13, 1983, was particularly significant. In the resolution, the General Assembly reaffirms the right of the Republic of Cyprus and its people to full and effective sovereignty and control over the entire territory of Cyprus and its natural and other resources, and calls upon all States to support and assist the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in exercising these rights. 

It condemns any action that seeks to undermine the full and effective exercise of the aforementioned rights, including the illegal issuance of title deeds, calls for the immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces and for respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, including freedom of movement, freedom of establishment, and the right to property; and the introduction of measures for the voluntary return of refugees to their homes in safe conditions. 

The General Assembly also addressed the issue of missing persons. In its Resolution 3450 (1975), it calls upon the Secretary-General to make every effort, in close cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to assist in investigating and ascertaining the fate of persons missing as a result of the armed conflict. 

This was followed by resolutions 33/172 (1978), 36/164 (1981), and 37/181 (1982). 

The Security Council played a central role in the establishment of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in 1964, through Resolution 186 (1964), as well as in mediation and peacekeeping efforts on the island. 

The General Assembly, on the other hand, contributed primarily to the formulation and reaffirmation of the UN’s fundamental principles and policy positions on the Cyprus issue. Through its resolutions, the issue remained on the broader international political agenda, and the international legitimacy of the relevant principles was strengthened. 

Cyprus’s participation in the General Assembly is not, of course, limited to the Cyprus issue. 

The Republic of Cyprus participates in broader UN discussions on peace and security, development, international law, climate change, human rights, and other international issues. 

Furthermore, during the High-Level Week, countries such as Cyprus are given the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with leaders and ministers of other states—opportunities that might not arise in other forums for dialogue. 

Contemporary Challenges 

Despite its great institutional and political significance, the General Assembly faces significant challenges. 

One of the main issues is that of the effectiveness and implementation of its decisions. The General Assembly represents 193 states with different political systems, interests, and geopolitical priorities. Reaching a broad consensus can therefore be extremely difficult. Furthermore, because many resolutions are recommendatory rather than binding, their implementation depends largely on the political will of member states. 

The financial pressures facing the UN are yet another major issue. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated this year that the Organization was facing “impending financial collapse” due to unpaid contributions from member states, prompting the international organization to implement significant budget cuts. 

In a letter to all 193 member states, earlier this year, Mr. Guterres urged them to fulfill their mandatory financial obligations or to revise the organization’s financial rules in order to avert the collapse. 

This move followed the refusal of the United States, the UN’s largest contributor, to contribute to the regular budgets and the budgets for peacekeeping operations, as well as its withdrawal from various agencies. Several other member states are behind on their payments. 

In 2026, an effort to reform and reduce costs is underway as part of the “UN80,” as the Organization’s funding has become a critical issue for its ability to respond to international crises. 

The challenge, therefore, for the General Assembly is not only to maintain its operations, but to prove that it can remain an effective institution in a world of mounting global risks and far more complex geopolitical balances. 

Source: CNA