Cyprus flags Turkey’s defiance of UN resolutions, backs India’s UNSC bid

Ambassador Evagoras Vryonides highlights gaps in global governance, citing Turkey’s continued presence in Cyprus despite UN resolutions. 

Kolkata

In an exclusive interview, Cyprus Ambassador Evagoras Vryonides launched a sharp critique of the United Nations’ failure to enforce its resolutions against Turkey, stating that Ankara has not withdrawn its troops from the occupied part of Cyprus despite 52 years of international resolutions. The ambassador also strongly backed India’s bid for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, arguing that the global institution needs urgent reform to reflect the realities of the 21st century.

“We have a drawer full of UN resolutions calling for the Turkish troops’ withdrawal since 1974, for the last 52 years; Turkey has not moved an inch,” Vryonides said, underlining the limitations of the existing international system. He argued that the current framework must change if the United Nations is to become more effective in addressing international conflicts and enforcing its decisions.

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The ambassador’s remarks come amid continuing tensions over Cyprus, where Turkey launched a military intervention in 1974. Drawing on his personal experience of the conflict, Vryonides recalled being just eight years old when bombs fell around his home. He said the consequences of military aggression had continued to shape his country, with the northern part of Cyprus remaining under Turkish control.

Cyprus backs India’s permanent UNSC seat

Backing India’s long-standing demand for permanent membership of the UN Security Council, Vryonides said the global order had changed substantially since the United Nations was established in 1945.

“The world has changed a lot since 1945. We believe it’s time for the reform of the UN Security Council, and we support India’s bid to become a permanent member,” he said.

His endorsement highlights Cyprus’s support for expanding India’s role in global decision-making at a time when questions over the effectiveness and representativeness of international institutions remain central to geopolitical debate.