UN General Assembly
1966

To us, the inhabitants of that island, whether Greek or Turkish in origin, became free and proud Cypriots, inasmuch as the Greeks and Turks were free and proud citizens of their respective countries. Therefore, it saddened us when, after Cyprus had hardly gained its independence, talk of partition and union with one country or another became the focal points in a dispute which led to the shedding of innocent Cypriot blood. Furthermore, quite a number of States, including Saudi Arabia, which had striven in the United Nations for the independence of Cyprus, had done so with the full understanding that Cyprus would not merge with Greece or Turkey. Politically, our stand is still the same.