‘Cyprus stands as a testament to the vital importance of upholding international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michail said on Thursday, adding that as a victim of foreign aggression, Cyprus continues to endure the consequences of violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity for decades and that these violations ‘underscore the urgent need to ensure that international law is respected, upheld and enforced universally.’
Speaking before the UN Sixth Committee, Ambassador Michail, reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to the promotion of the rule of law at both national and international levels, describing it as ‘the cornerstone of peaceful, just and inclusive societies and the foundation of the multilateral order.’
Ambassador Michail expressed full support for the Committee’s work, assuring that ‘you may count on the full support and cooperation of Cyprus.’ Aligning Cyprus’ position with that of the European Union, she underscored the importance of strengthening legal norms globally.
She pointed out that ‘Cyprus stands as a testament to the vital importance of upholding international law and the Charter of the United Nations.’ She noted that ‘as a victim of foreign aggression, Cyprus continues to endure the consequences of violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity for decades.’ These ongoing violations, she pointed out, ‘underscore the urgent need to ensure that international law is respected, upheld and enforced universally.’
Michail welcomed the Secretary-General’s report and concurred with its main conclusion that ‘the rule of law is the cornerstone of peaceful, just and inclusive societies.’
Ambassador Michail underlined the United Nations ‘unique and irreplaceable role’ in upholding and advancing international law, assisting over 150 Member States in fields such as ‘security, anti-corruption, protection of vulnerable groups, transitional justice, and constitutional reform.’ She also praised the UN’s central role in ‘codifying and developing international law,’ serving as ‘the guardian of the international legal order and the custodian of the rule of law at the international level’.
She further noted that ‘Cyprus has long established a robust legal system founded on democracy, the separation of powers, judicial independence and respect for human rights.’ She highlighted ongoing reforms to improve ‘efficiency, transparency, access to justice and accountability,’ such as separating the advisory and prosecutorial functions of the Attorney General, strengthening the Independent Authority against Corruption, and introducing ‘legislation on the disclosure of assets of elected and non-elected officials’.
On the international front, Cyprus remains ‘firmly committed to international law and the rules-based order grounded in the Charter of the United Nations’. Ambassador Michail reiterated Cyprus’ ‘strong support for the International Court of Justice as a cornerstone of the rules-based international system,’ emphasizing that ‘compliance with its judgments is essential for the settlement of disputes and the prevention of future ones.’
She also reaffirmed Cyprus’ backing for the International Criminal Court (ICC) as ‘essential in combating impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.’ She called for the ‘universality and integrity of the Rome Statute’ and its full implementation.
The ambassador stressed that all States must apply international law ‘without selectivity or double standards.’ As she put it, ‘The rule of law must serve as a shield for all, not as a privilege for the powerful,’ she said.