December 5, 1958
EVANGELOS AVEROFF: United Nations, 4 – (From our correspondent in New York) During today’s session of the UN political committee, the debate on the Cyprus issue continued. The most important development was a new amendment proposed by the Persian delegate to the draft resolution. «The General Assembly expressed its interest in bringing about self-government and free institutions in accordance with the United Nations charter in order to satisfy the legitimate desires of the Cypriot people,» said the amendment. As a result, the draft resolution proposed by Britain and Turkey was withdrawn. Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Averoff accused the United States of abandoning its neutral stance on the Cyprus issue, with its support of the Persian proposal. In order to avoid confusion, said Averoff, he would like to ask the United States if it favored independence for Cyprus and if it was opposed to the division of the island. Previously, the Turkish delegate had condemned the Indian proposal, which he said was «an attempt to establish a foothold for Greece in Cyprus.» Averoff then said that if division was not being ruled out, then Greece was not ruling out the possibility of union (with Greece).
