Garoyian deplores Turkey’s SC membership

Turkey's election as a non permanent member of the UN Security Council is an absurd decision, Cyprus House President Marios Garoyian had said here Saturday.

Expressing his disappointment, Garoyian added that “ it is really absurd a country that violates UN resolutions, occupies a UN and EU member-state and disregards human rights and the UN charter, to be elected as non permanent member of the UN Security Council”.

He added that this “development does not help the UN, because it sends the message that the Organization legalizes the candidacy of a country that condemns and violates the UN charter”.

The House President pointed out that the election of Turkey as a non-permanent member-state of the UN is a step back, in accordance with the UN sensitivities for countries that violate human rights and constitute a threat for international or regional peace, stability and security.

He also expressed the position that despite this development many countries continue to consider Turkey as an initiator of instability which possesses an attitude that does not belong to the UN.

The House President also conveyed his concern about developments regarding the Cyprus issue after the election of Turkey as a non- permanent member of the SC. He said he believes that non-permanent members of the UN have the means to influence and to delay statements or to change statements regarding the violation of the UN charter and values.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey's membership of UNSC comes at a time when direct negotiations for a Cyprus settlement between President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat reached their fourth substantive meeting.