Resolution to UN calls for new Special Adviser on Cyprus

Encouraging the United Nations to reestablish its credentials as an honest broker in the Cyprus peace process, 25 Hellenic organizations participating in the 29th Annual PSEKA Cyprus and Hellenic Leadership Conference in Washington DC sent a Resolution today to the United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon.

The Resolution, calls on Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations Secretary General, to appoint a new Special Adviser on Cyprus replacing Alexander Downer.

The two main points of the Resolution call for a new Special Adviser on Cyprus and that the new Special Adviser establishes himself/herself as a credible honest broker of a Cypriot-owned process that follows the parameters set by the U.S. Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

Read the Resolution as it was sent to the U.N. Secretary General:

The participants of the 29th PSEKA Cyprus and Hellenic Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. CONDEMN the continuing occupation of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey, an occupation that is entering its 39th year in violation of international law and United Nations resolutions; RECOGNIZING the critical role of the United Nations and the good offices of the Secretary General as authorized by the United Nations Security Council in ending the occupation and reunification of the Republic of Cyprus according to relevant United Nations resolutions; NOTING that previous peace processes, most specifically the Annan peace plan of 2004, have failed in part because the United Nations officials working on the Republic of Cyprus’reunification began to be perceived as aligned with Turkish policies rather than as honest brokers; RECALLING the 2008 appointment of Alexander Downer as Special Advisor to the Secretary General on Cyprus; NOTING with dismay Mr. Downer’s inability to either preside over progress in reunification talks or establish himself as an honest broker between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; ENCOURAGED by an opportunity to advance peace on the Republic of Cyprus because of:

a) the economic incentive presented by the discovery of natural gas deposits that could benefit all Cypriots;
b) The recognition by Turkish Cypriots that their very identity is being threatened by the colonial policies of Turkey; and
c) the bold confidence building measures proposed by the government of the Republic of Cyprus;

RECOGNIZING the need for the United Nations to regain the trust and credibility among all Cypriots, as any reunification plan will be put to referendum across the island;

EXPRESSING disappointment that Mr. Downer has lost such trust through his lack of progress over 5 years, his tense relations with Greek Cypriots, and comments he has made over 5 years that put his impartiality into question;

1. Call on U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint a new Special Advisor to the Secretary General on Cyprus, replacing Alexander Downer; and
2. Requests that the new Special Advisor’s mandate explicitly directs the Special Advisor to establish himself/herself as a credible honest broker of a Cypriot-owned process that follows the parameters set by U.N. Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.

These are the 25 Hellenic organizations that unified in drafting and signing off on this resolution:

International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus, Philip Christopher, President

The Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, Andrew Manatos, President

United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), George Dovellos, President

Cyprus Federation of America, Costas Tsentas, President

World Council of Hellenes (SAE), Theodore Spyropoulos, President

AHEPA, Dr. John Grossomanides, Supreme President

American Hellenic Council of California (AHC)

Cyprus-US Chamber of Commerce, Vassos Vassiliou, President

Hellenic American National Council, Paul Kotrotsios, MBA, President

The Pan Macedonian Association, Konstantinos Hatzistefanidis, President

Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Elias Tsekerides, President

American Hellenic Institute (AHI), Nick Larigakis, President

The Committee of Cyprus Occupied Municipalities, Alexis Galanos, President

The New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission, Zenon Christodoulou, President

The Cyprus Children’s Fund, Savas Tsivicos, President

PSEKA-Canada, Dinos Sophocleous, President

PanHellenic Federation of Florida, Maria Poullas, President

Morphou Association – UK, Nicos Kotziamanis, President

The Overseas Cypriot Maronite Association, Maria Kokkinou, Chairwoman

The Cyprus Society of Greater Philadelphia, Stelios Tsinontides, Ph.D., President

Virginia Cyprus Benevolent Association, Tom Kyrus, President

Lampousa Cypriot American Association, Stavros Kamilaris, President

The Pancyprian Association of America, Nikos Mouyiaris, Executive Vice President

The Pancyprian Association of Florida, Angela Georgiades, President

The Pancyprians of Washington DC, Dinos Miltiadous, President

The Organization of Relatives of Missing Persons of Cyprus, Nick Theodosiou, President

Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC); Nikos Mouyiaris, Chairman / Endy Zemenides, Executive Director