General Assembly
Fifty-eighth session

Agenda item 30

Question of Cyprus

Security Council

Fifty-ninth year

Letter dated 26 July 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Upon instructions from my Government, I wish to refer to the thirtieth anniversary of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus , a very sad occasion for my country and its people, and to strongly protest against the “celebrations” that took place in the occupied area of Cyprus on that occasion. The “celebrations” were attended by high-ranking Turkish government officials, headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul. In the framework of these “celebrations”, three vessels (two frigates and one submarine) of the Turkish military navy arrived at the occupied port of Famagusta .

It is with great disappointment that we witness, for yet another time, Turkey ’s insistence on distorting the historical truth about

Cyprus

. it is also ironic that

Turkey

attempts to present a permanent violation of international law, namely, a military invasion against a sovereign State Member of the United Nations, and a subsequent illegal occupation, as an event worthy of enthusiastic commemorations and power demonstrations. Such acts not only constitute a blatant insult to the people of Cyprus, who still suffer from the painful consequences of Turkish invasion and occupation, but also heighten feelings of insecurity and undermine continuous efforts towards reconciliation and mutual trust between the two communities.

Unfortunately, at a time when Turkey ’s European perspectives and Cyprus ’s accession to the European Union create a new momentum for reconciliation and reunification, Turkey ’s policy on

Cyprus

remains unaltered. Instead of fulfilling its Cyprus-related obligations that arise from its agreements with the European Union, as well as from international law,

Turkey

attempts both by word and by action to promote secession, in complete defiance of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and to consolidate the existing unacceptable status quo. The speech delivered by the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs during the military parade in occupied Nicosia on 20 July leaves no room for doubt as to Turkey ’s real intentions with regard to

Cyprus

. It is evident that Turkey will not hesitate to exploit the present circumstances in order to achieve political gains for the illegal regime in the northern part of Cyprus and will thus try to legitimize the results of partition imposed upon

Cyprus

through the use of force and sustained by military strength.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 30, and of the Security Council.