A/HRC/41/15 125. The President of the Human Rights Council recalled that questions of a political and territorial nature did not fall within the mandate of the Council. He also recalled that certain issues were already on the agenda of other bodies that were more competent in those areas. The President invited the delegations to focus on human rights issues in their interventions and to avoid territorial and bilateral issues which politicized the debate. 126. Turkey stated that there had been an increasing number of premeditated attacks and incidents perpetrated against Turkish Cypriots and that they had remained largely unpunished. Turkey stated that there was still no Turkish-language school in the south and that there was no mosque in the south for unrestricted and continuous worship. It stated that many Turkish Cypriots were prevented from crossing into the south on the basis of their ethnic origin or the origin of their ancestors. 127. Turkmenistan commended the efforts of Cyprus towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including its first voluntary national review in 2017. 128. Ukraine appreciated the efforts of Cyprus aimed at the protection of environmental rights, namely the activities on reversing the impact of climate change and its negative repercussions, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean. 129. The United Arab Emirates stated that Cyprus played a leading role in the protection of cultural heritage. 130. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recognized human rights progress, including efforts to combat human trafficking and modern slavery, and to protect and promote women’s rights. It was concerned by the deprivation of citizenship of Turkish Cypriot children with one parent who was a non-Cypriot national. 131. The United States of America recognized the challenges faced by Cyprus related to migration and the political division of the island. It was concerned about allegations that investigations of police for mistreatment of persons in detention were hampered by a lack of resources and personal ties between the accused police officers and investigators. 132. The delegation of Cyprus recalled that almost all Turkish Cypriots, irrespective of where they lived, were holders of Cypriot birth certificates, identity documents and passports. The Government had had to adopt emergency measures to counter the influx of illegal settlers, including the adoption of criteria concerning the granting of Cypriot nationality to them and their descendants. 133. Turkey, raising a point of order, stated that Cyprus should not be exempt from the rules of procedure and should refrain from making political statements. 134. The delegation of Cyprus stated that all the cases concerning the granting of Cypriot nationality were examined on humanitarian grounds. The Government of Cyprus was working towards a solution that respected the expectations of all Cypriots and would result in a functional federal State based on United Nations Security Council resolutions and the agreements of the leaders of the two communities, free from occupation armies, rights of intervention and guarantees. The delegation stated that the occupying Power had obligations. 135. Turkey, raising a point of order, recalled that Cyprus was not exempt from the rules of procedure and stated that the only occupation was that of the Greek Cypriot administration. 136. The President of the Human Rights Council repeated his first announcement that the meeting was not destined to address bilateral, territorial or political issues and requested the delegations to focus on human rights issues in their interventions. He reminded delegations that points of order should be on procedural matters. 137. Cyprus confirmed and reaffirmed that the Government ensured the effective participation of Turkish Cypriots living in all the parts of Cyprus. The Government had also been ready to establish a Turkish-language school in Limassol but had encountered parental resistance out of fear that their children would be isolated or suffer discrimination. 138. In conclusion, Cyprus attributed great importance to the universal periodic review. The outcome of the review would contribute to further enhancing the promotion and 11