Christodoulides Accuses Erdoğan of ‘Maximum Hypocrisy’ Over Cyprus at UN

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Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides directly confronted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 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.

Christodoulides said he had listened closely to Erdoğan’s UN speech, in which the Turkish president referred to international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

But he said Turkey’s actions towards Cyprus contradicted those principles.

“However, in relation to my homeland, in relation to Cyprus, Turkey is doing the exact opposite. Maximum hypocrisy,” Christodoulides said.

“Politicians are judged not by their words but by their actions.”

“If Mr Erdoğan wishes to invoke the Charter, he must first implement the Charter.”

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.

Christodoulides: 52 years of Turkish occupation

The Cypriot president described the division of Cyprus as an “existential reality” for the Republic of Cyprus, saying 52 years had passed since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

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.

He also raised the status of Varosha, saying Turkey continued to disregard UN Security Council resolutions concerning the fenced-off area.

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.

He also referred to the families of missing persons who continue to seek information about the fate of their relatives.

“Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity are not rhetorical figures,” Christodoulides said.

“Nor should they be applied selectively, depending on who the perpetrator is.”

He warned that the issue extended beyond Cyprus.

“This is not just an issue that concerns Cyprus. It concerns the credibility of the international system itself.”

Cyprus rejects partition

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.

He said he was ready to resume negotiations from where they had previously stalled and build on the work already completed.

“The common ground exists: the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, international law, as well as EU law, values and principles,” he said.

“What is required now is political will from all sides.”

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.

He also issued an unequivocal rejection of partition.

“Partition will not be accepted,” he said.

“This cannot and will not be the future of my homeland and my people. Never.”

Christodoulides called on Turkish Cypriots to view reunification as an opportunity for a shared future and urged Erdoğan to support a return to meaningful negotiations within the UN framework.

Cyprus positions itself as a regional humanitarian hub

The Cyprus issue formed the sharpest part of Christodoulides’ address, but the president also used his speech to highlight the country’s wider regional role.

He pointed to Cyprus’ geographical position between Europe, Asia and Africa and its involvement in humanitarian, security and climate initiatives.

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.

Christodoulides said Cyprus had also repeatedly assisted with evacuations from regional conflicts and crises, describing the country as a “safe haven” for third-country nationals.

According to the president, Cyprus helped evacuate thousands of people from 70 countries over the past three years.

He also highlighted Cyprus’ 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.

‘Small states’ must have a voice

Christodoulides framed Cyprus’ position within a broader argument about the future of the UN and the international order.

He said smaller states depended on a system where sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law were respected regardless of a country’s military or political power.

“Great powers have leverage. Smaller states must be persuaded. We cannot coerce. But we can join forces,” he said.

“We cannot impose outcomes. But together, we can help shape them.”

He also highlighted Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2026, arguing that the country’s small population did not prevent it from taking on responsibility within the 27 member bloc.

“Our size has not diminished the responsibility to lead,” he said.

‘The principles remain the same’

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.

“For 52 years, the principles at stake remain the same,” he said.

“UN Resolutions cannot be applied in one case and completely ignored in another.”

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.

“Despite the challenges due to the Turkish occupation, we remain resilient and unwavering in our faith in the Multilateral system,” Christodoulides said.

“For Cyprus, there is no such dilemma.”

“We believe in a UN that protects the principles of its Charter and has the ability to act in accordance with them.”

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