The international law remains crucial in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, as emphasized during the opening of the two-day conference, in Nicosia, organized by the Cyprus Bar Association. The conference, titled "Fifty Years of Invasion and Occupation: Extensions of International and European Law," highlighted the necessity of legal support against Turkish provocations and the importance of international legal order in safeguarding Cyprus' sovereign rights. In a recorded message, Attorney General George Savvides pointed out the readiness of the Legal Service to address any new challenges regarding the Cyprus issue. He noted that both he and the Legal Service prioritize providing legal support to the President and the government on all matters related to the legal aspects of the Cyprus problem. "For this purpose, regular meetings are held," Savvides said, citing the recent guidance given to the government on measures concerning the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the island's Turkish-occupied are as. "Given that the Cyprus problem is one of invasion and occupation, the rules of international law serve as a strong weapon to counter Turkish plans for further violations against the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, both on land, in the air, and at sea, as well as against the rights of its citizens," Savvides added. He also mentioned that a team of distinguished foreign legal experts supports the specialized legal team within the Legal Service dealing with the Cyprus issue, ready to tackle any new challenge from the aggressor through legal means. Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannidis stated that time does not legitimize violations of international and EU law, and that illegality does not produce rights. He stressed that facts on the ground cannot override relevant rules. "International and European law equip the Republic of Cyprus with strong arguments to support its positions," Ioannidis said. "We must not undere stimate this legal framework, but rather strive to strengthen it further for the benefit of our homeland and the international community." He added that the government seeks a fair, permanent, and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue that ensures the inalienable rights of the Cypriot people, guarantees fundamental human freedoms, and provides for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers from Cyprus. He noted that from his first day in office, the President of the Republic addressed the international community, emphasizing that addressing violations and restoring international law is its responsibility and obligation. President of the Cyprus Bar Association Michalis Vorkas noted that the state of Cyprus remains alive for two reasons: the determination and perseverance of Greek Cypriots to stay on their ancestral land and the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to highlight its statehood as a UN and EU member, relying on international conventions and principles that have granted it recognition and par ticipation rights in international organizations. "For this reason, Turkey has not managed, despite fifty years, to achieve the recognition of the pseudo-state established in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus," Vorkas added. He stressed that the international community cannot treat the Ukrainian issue differently from the Cyprus issue, as international law and its application do not distinguish between small and large countries or economic and other interests. "International sanctions cannot be imposed selectively. Usurpers of a European country cannot circulate unscathed and undisturbed in Europe, the UK, or the USA," Vorkas said. Keynote speaker Sir Malcolm Evans, Professor of International Law at the University of Oxford, discussed the role of international law in addressing long-standing violations of the international order. He pointed out that modern international law, particularly post-1945 with the establishment of the UN Charter, emphasizes peaceful dispute resolution and the il legitimacy of using force. Today, he went on to say, diplomacy and the rule of law are preferred over violence. In the case of Cyprus, he noted there has been a roll back. He contrasted the historical acceptance of war as a policy tool with the contemporary legal framework that mandates peaceful conflict resolution. Additionally, Evans emphasized that responding to illegality matters and that illegality does not diminish over time. As he said, while mechanisms of international law may be slow, and cases brought before international courts and tribunals can take many years, often resulting in unsatisfactory acknowledgments of wrongdoing, addressing these violations remains crucial. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Last January, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointe d María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue. Source: Cyprus News Agency