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, addressing the UN Sixth Committee. As “a victim of foreign aggression,” she added, Cyprus has endured decades of violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, violations that “underscore the urgent need to ensure that international law is respected, upheld and enforced universally.”
Reaffirming Cyprus’s “unwavering commitment” to the rule of law at home and abroad, “the cornerstone of peaceful, just and inclusive societies and the foundation of the multilateral order”, Michail voiced full support for the Committee’s work: “You may count on the full support and cooperation of Cyprus.” She aligned Nicosia’s position with that of the European Union, stressing the need to strengthen legal norms globally.
Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report and its conclusion that the rule of law is foundational, Michail underlined the United Nations’ unique and irreplaceable role in upholding and advancing international law, supporting more than 150 Member States on security, anti-corruption, protection of vulnerable groups, transitional justice and constitutional reform. She praised the UN’s central role in codifying and developing international law as “guardian of the international legal order and custodian of the rule of law at the international level.”
At the national level, she noted Cyprus’s “robust legal system” built on democracy, separation of powers, judicial independence and human rights, alongside ongoing reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, access to justice and accountability. These include separating the advisory and prosecutorial functions of the Attorney General, strengthening the Independent Authority against Corruption, and introducing asset-disclosure legislation for elected and non-elected officials.
Internationally, Cyprus remains “firmly committed to international law and the rules-based order grounded in the UN Charter.” Michail reiterated strong support for the International Court of Justice, “compliance with its judgments is essential for the settlement of disputes and the prevention of future ones”, and for the International Criminal Court (ICC) as “essential in combating impunity for the most serious crimes.” She called for the universality and integrity of the Rome Statute and its full implementation.
All states, she stressed, must apply international law “without selectivity or double standards.” The rule of law, she said, “must serve as a shield for all, not as a privilege for the powerful.”
CNA