AKEL has condemned the abstention of the Republic of Cyprus from the vote at the UN General Assembly regarding the Golan Heights, stressing that this decision contradicts principles of international law. The Golan Heights were annexed by Israel in 1981, a move condemned by the UN.
AKEL argued that Cyprus, due to its own experience with territorial occupation, should consistently uphold international law, bolstering its credibility and international standing. The Republic of Cyprus’ abstention, combined with the positions of the US and the EU, undermines its credibility and distances Cyprus from states and peoples that have supported it in the past.
UN calls for Israeli withdrawal from Golan Heights
The UN General Assembly resolution calls on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Golan Heights in Syria, which Israel has controlled, settled, and exploited since June 1967. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, a move condemned by the UN Security Council. In 2019, the Trump administration recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territory, a violation of international law. The Cypriot Parliament has previously condemned both Israel’s annexation and the US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over these Syrian territories.
Given these circumstances, AKEL described Cyprus’ abstention during the recent UN vote as unacceptable. This adds to a series of UN votes in which the Anastasiades administration, and now the Christodoulides government, have shifted away from principled positions of international law in favour of Israel and the US. The government, AKEL argued, cannot hide behind the stance of other EU member states, as Cyprus is the only EU country that faces occupation and a violation of its territorial integrity.
Cyprus should uphold international law consistently
AKEL reiterated that Cyprus has more reasons than other states to adhere strictly to principled positions on issues of international law violations. Upholding these principles enhances the credibility of the Republic of Cyprus when it seeks international support for its own case against Turkish occupation and settlement. Conversely, blindly aligning with the double standards of the US and EU undermines Cyprus’ credibility and isolates it from states and peoples that have supported the country in challenging times.
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