“We are witnessing a growing attempted erosion of rules-based international order, rising nationalism and violations of human rights,” said Nikos Christodoulides, President of Cyprus, in his address to the Parliamentary Assembly. In outlining many of these and other challenges, he stressed that “the vision of peace, pluralistic democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law that led to the establishment of the Council of Europe 75 years ago has never been more pertinent.”
In pointing out the “glaring reality” that “frozen conflicts” do not exist, the Cypriot President warned that “prolonged political stalemates should not be treated with complacency” and that the “absence of diplomacy and dialogue can breed cycles of perpetual violence with catastrophic repercussions.”
Because the Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrates that “peace in Europe – and indeed the world – can never be taken for granted”, President Christodoulides stressed that “we will never allow border changes stemming from violence and war” and that “threats to Europe and the world will not be deterred if we do not act decisively and in unity.”
He gave several examples for multilateral action to promote peace, including the Cyprus Maritime Corridor Initiative that provides for humanitarian assistance to be delivered civilians in Gaza and the normalisation and the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan within the framework of EU mediation.
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Evoking the 50th anniversary of the division of Cyprus, he said: “Human rights in Cyprus remain tragically an unfulfilled promise for all Cypriots.” Having grown up in a divided country, the Cypriot President stressed: “All Cypriots – Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, Latins – deserve the same human rights and fundamental freedoms as all other Europeans.”
The Council of Europe plays a key role as well to face a “backlash” against gender equality – following decades of steady progress. “At the same time, violence against women in all its forms is rising, whilst sexual, health and reproductive rights of women are also being increasingly infringed upon,” he said, stressing that the Council of Europe’s leadership is crucial in preventing such violations and safeguarding gender equality, women’s rights, and the right to education and social equality.
