Press Releases

United Nations, New York, 23 September 2024

Last year’s Summit marked the beginning of a new phase, as we collectively committed to accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We reaffirmed our commitment to the 2030 Agenda as our primary framework for addressing the multifaceted crises facing humanity.

This year is another pivotal moment, as we should reinvigorate global efforts to secure a sustainable future for all.

Climate change, inequality, and conflict are only some of the multiple challenges the world faces today; addressing them requires leadership and transformative action.

The intergovernmental negotiations on the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations have revealed the extent of our perspectives. However, it is precisely this diversity and the bridging of different views, understandings and expectations, that is the true strength of multilateralism.

I welcome the adoption of the Pact and its two Annexes. I recognise the significant progress made and I commend the dedication of all who contributed to this, and primarily of the co-facilitators who have led the negotiations.

I truly believe that we can shape a future that reflects our shared values, even in complex negotiations. But our work does not end here.

As we move beyond this Summit, Cyprus is ready to work alongside our partners in fostering collaboration between governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector. In this interconnected world, networked multilateralism is essential.

As a member of the European Union and the Asia-Pacific Group, and with strong ties to the Small Island Developing States, Cyprus has a unique position and stands as a bridge between regions and perspectives. This vantage point equips us to better understand and address the concerns of our counterparts in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and beyond.

For Cyprus, climate change is not a distant threat but a lived reality. Droughts, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events affect our livelihoods and communities daily. Hence, we welcome the growing global commitment to addressing these urgent issues, as reflected in the Pact for the Future.

As a small island state, we are committed to working together alongside all United Nations (UN) member states to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights on an equal footing.

In this spirit of commitment, Cyprus has put forward its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for 2025-2027. Our focus will be on advancing the human rights of all, with particular attention to children, women, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. We will also promote cultural dialogue to bridge divides and combat discrimination.

Cyprus stands ready to continue collaborating with all UN member states, not only to defend human rights, but also to take concrete actions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Together, we have the power, and the responsibility, to turn these ambitions to reality and ensure future generations inherit a world defined by justice, sustainability, and peace.

(RM/MS/AS)