At an Arria-formula (informal) meeting of the UN Security Council on “Bridging the Implementation Gap: Security Council Resolutions and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security,” organized by the Permanent Missions of Pakistan and China to the United Nations at UN Headquarters, Greece underscored the crucial importance of implementing Security Council resolutions and adhering to international law.

During the discussion, Greece pointed to the Cyprus issue as a clear example of the challenges surrounding the implementation of Security Council decisions. It stressed that respect for and adherence to Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550 should serve as the guiding principle for UN member states in addressing the matter.

Referring to the relevant Security Council decisions, Greece’s Deputy Permanent Representative recalled that through Resolutions 541 and 550, the Council called on all states to respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and not to recognize or assist in any way the secessionist entity declared in the island’s occupied areas.

Greece also reiterated its broader position on international peace and security, emphasizing its firm belief that lasting peace can only be achieved through the establishment and consolidation of the rule of law.

In this context, Athens reaffirmed the importance it attaches to the primacy of the UN Charter and to full respect for international law as the foundation of the international system.