Statement by the Government Spokesman, Mr. N.
Christodoulides
,
at the Security Council Open Debate “The
victims of attacks
and abuses on ethnic or religious ground in
the Middle East”
UN
Headquarters, 27 March 2015
Mr.
President,
At
the outset, I wish to congratulate France for its timely initiative to organize
this open debate focusing on the open wound of “attacks and abuses on ethnic or
religious ground in the Middle East.” Cyprus aligns itself with the statement
delivered by the European Union, and would like to add the following from a
national angle.
Around
a century ago, poet Constantine Cavafy, who lived in Alexandria Egypt, in his
poem “Going Back Home for Greece” wrote of:
“Our
seas, the waters of Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt,
the beloved waters of our home countries”
the beloved waters of our home countries”
And
went on to say that
“We
must not be ashamed of the Syrian and Egyptian blood in our veins; we should
really honor it, take pride in it”.
I
have cited this Mr. President, only as one of the many examples of the cultural
richness of the Middle East, a birth place of great civilizations and religions,
and an area of spiritual fermentation and fertilization. This mosaic has been
the product of thousands of years of coexistence and conflict in an area that
had always been the bone of contention between regional and international
powers.
Today
we are yet again experiencing tremendous turmoil in the Middle East. This debate
is an opportunity to reflect upon the root causes of this unrest. In order to do so, we must avoid the trap of
confining ourselves to the developments in a specific region. Ethnic and
religious clashes are nowadays a source or a pretext for nearly every conflict
around the world. It is also being invoked as the ideological basis of
terrorism, intolerance, discrimination, racism and all forms of hatred. If this
scourge is not tackled decisively, if it remains unaddressed, it will soon have
such spill-over effect that will render the whole situation as entirely out of
control.
These
times demand courageous measures by all States individually, as well by the
international community collectively. All
that we are witnessing in the wider region of the Middle East, particularly
following the emergence of ISIS/Daech and the perpetration of its untold
atrocities cannot leave us indifferent or passive .
As the Syrian conflict
enters its fifth year, it is evident that long term oppression, intolerance and
lack of inclusiveness have cultivated the ground for growing terrorism. The
incomprehensible violence caused by ISIL/Da'esh and other terrorist groups, as
well as the different militias, has created a huge humanitarian crisis. It is
vital that th e international community sends clear
and strong messages condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,
including the organizers, financiers and sponsors of acts of terrorism.
In
Iraq, although the situation seems to be getting under control there is still a
lot that needs to be done. ISIL/Da'esh can only be defeated if there is
political unity and a common fight against terrorism. Cyprus believes that addressing the security
and political crisis in the country is key for its stability but also for
regional safety and security.
The recent
horrific and brutal acts of terrorism in Libya have showcased, once again, that
terrorism knows no borders. We have witnessed how destructive ISIL is in Iraq
and Syria, and unfortunately it has found fertile ground in the growing
post-revolution political instability in Libya. The
gravity of the situation in Libya must prompt action in support of the political
process in that country. To restore stability, a
political solution to the Libyan crisis is a sine qua non.
Mr.
President,
T
he problem of religious persecution is most pronounced in parts of the Middle
East in the current turbulent times, and especially in places where conflict is
raging and extremist terrorist groups are active.
A resolute stance for the principle of religious freedom everywhere is
extremely important. Religious belief is fundamental to many human identities.
Freedom of faith must be defended, irrespective of whether the attacks come from
totalitarian atheist regimes or theocracies. For the faithful, what they believe
about God is inseparable from what they understand about human beings. But God’s
rights must never be allowed to trample on human rights.
Mr.
President,
Cyprus
aligns itself with European, International and regional partners in the
collective effort to respond to the current challenges. Cyprus is contributing
decisively in the international effort to destroy the Syrian chemical weapons.
We have aligned ourselves with the international coalition against terrorism and
we have been active in promoting actions aiming at protecting the ancient
communities and the religious and ethnic minorities of the Middle East. Our long
tradition as a constructive and stabilizing factor in the region is acknowledged
by all.
It is our duty
towards humanity and our shared values to steadfastly adopt a more proactive
political involvement, so as to save future generations from the plague of bare
hatred. For us, it is also a historical responsibility towards our ancestors and
the beloved waters of our homelands.
