Democratic Alignment (DIPA) President Marios Garoyan has characterised the ongoing situation in Gaza as a “genocide of Palestinians” during a recent interview on Sigma TV.
- Democratic Alignment (DIPA) President Marios Garoyan has characterised the ongoing situation in Gaza as a "genocide of Palestinians" during a recent interview on Sigma TV.
- He highlighted the complex geopolitical landscape by referencing Turkey, a NATO member that maintains relations with Russia while experiencing strained ties with Israel.
In his remarks on Wednesday, Garoyan, a supporter of President Nikos Christodoulides’ government, voiced strong criticism of the international community’s response to the Palestinian conflict. He asserted, “With the same force that we condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the same voice we must shout: stop this genocide. We cannot invoke international law as it suits us.”
Garoyan dismissed concerns that discussing the conflict could harm Cyprus’s national interests. He stated, “I categorically reject when we talk about genocide in Gaza that some third parties claim we are harming national interests, because we say the obvious and do not close our eyes to the degradation, to the unprecedented phenomena occurring in Gaza, especially regarding the civilian population, women and children.”
Despite his criticism of the situation, Garoyan reaffirmed Cyprus’s commitment to a Western alignment. He noted, “Cyprus has a clear orientation – and that is towards the West. It does not change, it does not alter,” emphasising that political consistency does not preclude necessary criticism.
Reflecting on his past diplomatic efforts, Garoyan mentioned his role as the first parliamentary speaker to visit Israel in 35 years. “I am not against Israel… Things are not one-dimensional. Politics needs realism and clear positions, not hypocrisy or ambiguities,” he explained.
He highlighted the complex geopolitical landscape by referencing Turkey, a NATO member that maintains relations with Russia while experiencing strained ties with Israel.
