{"id":22179,"date":"2026-09-23T18:54:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/christodoulides-accuses-erdogan-of-maximum-hypocrisy-over-cyprus-at-un-greek-city-times\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T18:54:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:54:42","slug":"christodoulides-accuses-erdogan-of-maximum-hypocrisy-over-cyprus-at-un-greek-city-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/christodoulides-accuses-erdogan-of-maximum-hypocrisy-over-cyprus-at-un-greek-city-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Christodoulides Accuses Erdo\u011fan of \u2018Maximum Hypocrisy\u2019 Over Cyprus at UN \u2013 Greek City Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-first=\"S\">\n<h3 id=\"h-cyprus-president-nikos-christodoulides-directly-confronted-turkish-president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-over-the-cyprus-issue-during-his-address-to-the-81st-united-nations-general-assembly-accusing-ankara-of-hypocrisy-for-invoking-international-law-while-maintaining-its-military-presence-in-the-island-s-north\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides directly confronted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan over the Cyprus issue during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, accusing Ankara of hypocrisy for invoking international law while maintaining its military presence in the island\u2019s north.<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u039f\u03bc\u03b9\u03bb\u03af\u03b1 \u03a0\u03c1\u03bf\u03ad\u03b4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u0394\u03b7\u03bc\u03bf\u03ba\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd 81\u03b7 \u0393\u03b5\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03a3\u03c5\u03bd\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u0397\u03bd\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03c9\u03bd \u0395\u03b8\u03bd\u03ce\u03bd\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lZcgguhu8ig?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides said he had listened closely to Erdo\u011fan\u2019s UN speech, in which the Turkish president referred to international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But he said Turkey\u2019s actions towards Cyprus contradicted those principles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHowever, in relation to my homeland, in relation to Cyprus, Turkey is doing the exact opposite. Maximum hypocrisy,\u201d Christodoulides said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPoliticians are judged not by their words but by their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf Mr Erdo\u011fan wishes to invoke the Charter, he must first implement the Charter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides said the credibility of the international system depended on whether UN principles were applied consistently, rather than according to the size or power of individual states.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-christodoulides-52-years-of-turkish-occupation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Christodoulides: 52 years of Turkish occupation<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cypriot president described the division of Cyprus as an \u201cexistential reality\u201d for the Republic of Cyprus, saying 52 years had passed since the 1974 Turkish invasion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said more than one third of the island remained under Turkish occupation and that tens of thousands of displaced people and their descendants continued to be prevented from returning to their homes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also raised the status of Varosha, saying Turkey continued to disregard UN Security Council resolutions concerning the fenced-off area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides accused Turkey of violating fundamental human rights, damaging religious and cultural heritage and facilitating what he described as the organised transfer of settlers and demographic change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also referred to the families of missing persons who continue to seek information about the fate of their relatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRespect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are not rhetorical figures,\u201d Christodoulides said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNor should they be applied selectively, depending on who the perpetrator is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He warned that the issue extended beyond Cyprus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is not just an issue that concerns Cyprus. It concerns the credibility of the international system itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cyprus-rejects-partition\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cyprus rejects partition<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides reaffirmed that Cyprus remains committed to a settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, in line with the framework established by the United Nations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said he was ready to resume negotiations from where they had previously stalled and build on the work already completed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe common ground exists: the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, international law, as well as EU law, values and principles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is required now is political will from all sides.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides said a settlement should reunite Cyprus and allow Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins to live together in peace, security and prosperity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also issued an unequivocal rejection of partition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPartition will not be accepted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis cannot and will not be the future of my homeland and my people. Never.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides called on Turkish Cypriots to view reunification as an opportunity for a shared future and urged Erdo\u011fan to support a return to meaningful negotiations within the UN framework.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cyprus-positions-itself-as-a-regional-humanitarian-hub\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cyprus positions itself as a regional humanitarian hub<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cyprus issue formed the sharpest part of Christodoulides\u2019 address, but the president also used his speech to highlight the country\u2019s wider regional role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed to Cyprus\u2019 geographical position between Europe, Asia and Africa and its involvement in humanitarian, security and climate initiatives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the Hamas attack in October 2023 and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Cyprus established the Amaltheia Maritime Humanitarian Corridor to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides said Cyprus had also repeatedly assisted with evacuations from regional conflicts and crises, describing the country as a \u201csafe haven\u201d for third-country nationals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the president, Cyprus helped evacuate thousands of people from 70 countries over the past three years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also highlighted Cyprus\u2019 regional climate change initiative, its regional aerial firefighting station at Paphos Air Base and CYCLOPS, a security and training centre established with the United States.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-small-states-must-have-a-voice\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018Small states\u2019 must have a voice<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christodoulides framed Cyprus\u2019 position within a broader argument about the future of the UN and the international order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said smaller states depended on a system where sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law were respected regardless of a country\u2019s military or political power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGreat powers have leverage. Smaller states must be persuaded. We cannot coerce. But we can join forces,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe cannot impose outcomes. But together, we can help shape them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also highlighted Cyprus\u2019 presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2026, arguing that the country\u2019s small population did not prevent it from taking on responsibility within the 27 member bloc.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur size has not diminished the responsibility to lead,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-principles-remain-the-same\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2018The principles remain the same\u2019<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Returning to the central theme of his speech, Christodoulides argued that the credibility of the UN would ultimately depend on whether its rules and resolutions were applied consistently.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor 52 years, the principles at stake remain the same,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUN Resolutions cannot be applied in one case and completely ignored in another.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said Cyprus would continue to support the multilateral system while pressing for the principles of the UN Charter to be applied to its own unresolved conflict.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDespite the challenges due to the Turkish occupation, we remain resilient and unwavering in our faith in the Multilateral system,\u201d Christodoulides said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor Cyprus, there is no such dilemma.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe believe in a UN that protects the principles of its Charter and has the ability to act in accordance with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<footer class=\"article-tags entry-footer\">\n<div>\n\t\t<strong>Tags:<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\tCyprus, Cyprus Invasion, Cyprus occupation, Cyprus Problem, Greek Cypriots, international law, Nikos Christodoulides, Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan, Turkey, Turkish Cypriots, UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, United Nations, Varosha\t<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"category_container author-information\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<section id=\"authorpage\" class=\"authorpage\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99ca06517608e7af44e9761bf7c358974ffbc4a43859fd8e5be6fc2f50d341af?s=164&amp;r=g\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/99ca06517608e7af44e9761bf7c358974ffbc4a43859fd8e5be6fc2f50d341af?s=328&amp;r=g 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-164 photo lazyload\" height=\"164\" width=\"164\" decoding=\"async\"\/>\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"author-content\">\n<h5>Bill Giannopoulos<\/h5>\n<h4>Junior Editor<\/h4>\n<p>Bill Giannopoulos is a Junior Editor at Greek City Times, covering Greek and international news, sport, and history.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.gr\" class=\"boxed-icon fill\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-link\"\/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/2026\/09\/24\/christodoulides-erdogan-maximum-hypocrisy-cyprus-un\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides directly confronted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan over the Cyprus issue during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, accusing Ankara of hypocrisy for invoking international law while maintaining its military presence in the island\u2019s north. Christodoulides said he had listened closely to Erdo\u011fan\u2019s UN speech, in which the &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Christodoulides Accuses Erdo\u011fan of \u2018Maximum Hypocrisy\u2019 Over Cyprus at UN \u2013 Greek City Times\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/23\/christodoulides-accuses-erdogan-of-maximum-hypocrisy-over-cyprus-at-un-greek-city-times\/#more-22179\" aria-label=\"Read more about Christodoulides Accuses Erdo\u011fan of \u2018Maximum Hypocrisy\u2019 Over Cyprus at UN \u2013 Greek City Times\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/23092026-Proedros-UN-address-1-1920x1059-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22179\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}