Nikos Christodoulides, President of CyprusPhoto: UN Web TV
During the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22 - 26 and 28 September 2026), Nikos Christodoulides, President of Cyprus, said Member States’ genuine willingness to contribute and protect the multilateral system will ensure it can respond to contemporary issues.
“After all, States bring different capabilities, experiences and perspectives,” he said, adding that small States must use persuasion to help shape outcomes. Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus has helped address global and regional emergencies.
He pointed to the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station, hosted at Paphos Air Base and supported by the European Union, and the Cyprus Center for Land, Open Seas and Port Security, as examples of its efforts.
Cyprus’ ability to build consensus was evident at its presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of this year. “Our size did not diminish the responsibility to lead,” he said. “Nor did it diminish our ability to fulfil it.”
“After all, States bring different capabilities, experiences and perspectives,” he said, adding that small States must use persuasion to help shape outcomes. Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus has helped address global and regional emergencies.
He pointed to the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station, hosted at Paphos Air Base and supported by the European Union, and the Cyprus Center for Land, Open Seas and Port Security, as examples of its efforts.
Cyprus’ ability to build consensus was evident at its presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of this year. “Our size did not diminish the responsibility to lead,” he said. “Nor did it diminish our ability to fulfil it.”
Turning to the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity, he called President Erdoğan’s recent remarks, made Monday at the Assembly’s opening session, on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity “hypocrisy of the highest form”, in relation to Cyprus.
“Mr. Erdoğan, if you want to quote from the Charter, you must first apply it,” he said. The Council has established the framework to settle the Cyprus problem.
That framework, of a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality, remains the only basis to a comprehensive settlement. “I remain fully committed to achieving a comprehensive settlement,” he said, adding he is ready to resume negotiations that ended in 2017.
The common ground with relevant Council resolutions and international law exists. “What is now required, is political will by all parties,” he said. He called on President Erdoğan to give the green light for substantive negotiations within the UN-agreed framework.
“Despite the challenges because of the Turkish occupation, Cyprus remains resilient and steadfast in our faith in the multilateral system,” he said.
To read the full transcript of President Nikos Christodoulides' UNGA address on the Government of Cyprus website, please click here.
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