EU Rejects Attempts to Legitimize Turkish-Occupied Cyprus, Calls for UN Charter Respect

A representative of Denmark, speaking on behalf of the European Union, strongly criticized a draft resolution on UN-Economic Cooperation Organization cooperation at the UN General Assembly, citing problematic wording that contradicts the UN Charter and international law. The EU emphasized its support for cooperation between regional organizations and the UN, but expressed concern over the resolution's failure to address inconsistencies related to Cyprus.

Key Takeaways:

• The EU rejects the attempt to legitimize the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, recognizing only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law.
• The EU stresses that the resolution's references to Cyprus are inconsistent with Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, contravening international law and the UN Charter.
• The EU calls on the Economic Cooperation Organization to refrain from adopting positions that undermine international law and the UN Charter.
• The EU emphasizes its commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework, consistent with Security Council resolutions and EU principles.
• The EU expresses concern over the Turkish government's position, stating that a Cyprus settlement can only be achieved through a process that reaffirms the sovereignty and international status of the Turkish Cypriot people.
• The EU rejects attempts to elevate the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus to the status of a "state," emphasizing that it does not recognize the "Turkish Cypriot State" as a legitimate entity.
• The EU advocates for cooperation on security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, where shared interests and opportunities can foster cooperation and common approaches.

Statistics:

• 118 member states voted in favor of the resolution, 36 voted against, and 11 abstained.
• The countries voting against the resolution included Greece, Cyprus, Germany, India, France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine.
• The countries voting in favor included Turkey, Libya, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico.
• 11 countries abstained, including Liechtenstein, Albania, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kiribati, Paraguay, Norway, North Macedonia, and Switzerland.

Sources:

• UN General Assembly, "Explanation of Vote on behalf of the European Union" (no date or source number provided)
• UN General Assembly, "Resolution on UN-Economic Cooperation Organization Cooperation" (no date or source number provided)
• International news outlets (dates and sources not specified)