The UN General Assembly in a resolution calls on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights in Syria, which it has occupied, settled and exploited since June 1967. As is known, the State of Israel annexed the Syrian Golan Heights in 1981, which was condemned by the UN Security Council, and in 2019 the then Trump administration proceeded, in violation of international law, to recognise Israeli sovereignty over these occupied territories. It should be recalled that the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus condemned both the annexation of these Syrian territories by Israel and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over them by the United States.

In view of this, the abstention by the Republic of Cyprus in the UN vote the day before yesterday is unacceptable. This is in addition to a series of votes in the UN where the Anastasiades Government and now the Christodoulides Government have moved from positions of principle and international law for the sake of Israel and the USA. The government cannot hide behind the stance of the other EU member-state (which overwhelmingly abstained) because Cyprus is the only EU member-state facing occupation of its territory and violation of its territorial integrity.

AKEL reiterates that Cyprus has more reasons than other states to be absolutely consistent on principled positions on all issues of violation of international law. The consistency and credibility of the Republic of Cyprus strengthens its position when seeking international support for its right to justice in the face of Turkish occupation and colonisation. On the contrary, blindly aligning with the double standards logic of the US and the EU undermines Cyprus’ credibility and isolates it from states and peoples who have supported our country in difficult times.

05.12.2024