Statement of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Glafcos Clerides
on the occasion of Cypriot Independence Day

October 1, 2001

The anniversary of Cyprus' independence finds the Cypriot people still suffering, after 27 years, from the consequences of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of a part of the island' s territory by Turkey.

This year's anniversary is marked by an intensification of the intransigence of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash in the Cyprus problem with the rejection of the UN Secretary-General's invitation for the resumption of the Cyprus talks. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leader disregard now the United Nations provocatively while continuing to blatantly violate international law and the UN resolutions regarding the Cyprus problem.

Last Wednesday, after the briefing by the Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on Cyprus Mr. Alvaro de Soto, the President of the Security Council made a statement. The statement stresses the disappointment of all Security Council members over the unjustified decision of the Turkish side to reject the Secretary-General's invitation to talks. The Security Council also encourages the Secretary-General and his Special Adviser to persist in their efforts using the guidelines of the Resolution 1250 and urges all interested parties to cooperate with them.I believe that this statement is supportive of the further development of the initiative. Our side will make full use of it in good faith and will continue to respond positively to the invitations of the Secretary-General. The international community must now exert to a greater extent its influence on the Turkish side to make it come back to the negotiating table. 

In this period of time international terrorism has been added to the factors affecting the Cyprus problem. The barbaric terrorist attack on the United States with its known shocking consequences has already started affecting the whole humanity in all sectors: The political, economic, social sectors but also the sector for the security of the lives of the citizens of various countries. Humanity is joining forces in the fight to confront the phenomenon of terrorism, to protect the countries and especially the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights as well as to avoid a conflict of cultures and religions.

Focusing the attention of the international community and especially that of the most powerful countries, on which the solution of international and regional problems is dependent for the confrontation of terrorism, could not but influence expected developments in the Cyprus problem. International and regional problems, however, still exist. Perhaps now more than ever their solution becomes necessary for the following three reasons: First: Because some of these problems are used to conscript terrorists .Second: Because the resolution of these problems will allow the international community to remain focused on the struggle for a radical and active confrontation of the most threatening and dangerous world problem, the problem of terrorism. Third: Because humanity begins with a unity and proceeds to complete the global campaign against international terrorism. However, this unity of states, different cultures and religions will be built on more stable foundations with the fair solution of international and regional problems and at the same time with setting the course for solutions, which will contribute to the economic and social development of developing societies. 

Cyprus with its small means is already contributing to the global campaign against international terrorism. Since the first moment we have condemned unreservedly the barbaric terrorist attack against the United States and expressed our deep sympathy to the relatives of the victims and the missing persons. At the same time, we have stressed our readiness and decisiveness to work closely together with the Government of the United States and to join forces with the states which will participate in this difficult and long struggle against terrorism. Humanity has no other choice but to fight and win. If it were to lose this war, a regressive, nightmarish course would begin. A course towards fear, obscurantism, intellectual degradation, setting aside universal principles and values, economic decline and distress. Generally it would be a course towards the disappearance of modern civilisation. We shall remain firmly committed to the basic aim of international community for the radical confrontation of international terrorism.

In parallel we here in Cyprus shall continue our struggle for the elimination of the consequences of the illegal invasion of Turkey which inter alia caused thousands of victims and missing persons.

We are seeking a solution of the Cyprus problem which will be consistent with UN resolutions, the acquis communautaire as it is valid and applied in the European Union which we aim to join with Human Rights Treaties and with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

I sincerely believe that such a solution will benefit equally the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and will contribute to peace, safety, political stability and cooperation between the states in our wider region. Such a solution will strengthen, also, the effort for creating the right circumstances and conditions which will facilitate all states of the region to contribute more effectively to the global campaign for a radical confrontation of international terrorism".

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