President Christodoulides addresses multilateralism summit in New York

President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, participated on the evening of September 21, 2026, in a high-level summit in New York titled 'Partners for Multilateralism, International Law, Peace and Prosperity'. The event was convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly by European Council President António Costa, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. During his intervention, President Christodoulides emphasized that in an era of intense geopolitical uncertainty, multilateralism and the UN Charter remain vital for safeguarding global peace and security.

He stressed that for Cyprus, which continues to experience the consequences of the 1974 Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation, respect for international law is a practical necessity rather than a theoretical principle. The President noted that an effective multilateral system is particularly crucial for small and medium-sized states to ensure that security is based on collective rules rather than power. Simultaneously, diplomatic discussions this week in New York also focus on the Cyprus issue, including the evaluation of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), though reports indicate low expectations for immediate breakthroughs as tensions persist regarding the handling of territorial and humanitarian issues.