Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of hypocrisy and called on him to take responsibility and end the 51-year occupation of Cyprus, BNR reported.
He expressed this position in his speech to the UN General Assembly late last night.
President Nikos Christodoulides' sharp reaction was provoked by the Turkish President's speech a day earlier.
„From this rostrum, Mr. Erdogan preached to the world about peace and responsibility. He pointed the finger at others for crimes that Turkey itself commits every day. This is selective sensitivity and hypocrisy of the highest order“, Christodoulides said.
“The illegality resulting from the use of force cannot be recognized“, he stressed, referring to the Cyprus issue.
Christodoulides addressed Erdogan directly and called on him to “negotiate a comprehensive agreement that will unite Cyprus in a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality“.
Before the UN, the Cypriot head of state presented his country as an example of responsibility in the face of global challenges, a pillar of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus has put forward its candidacy for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly next year.