In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michael has protested about extensive air and naval violations by Turkey in the first half of this year which came to 975 by air and 61 by sea against Cyprus.
In a letter dated 14 October 2025 Michael details extensive air and naval violations by Trkiye between January and June 2025 and urges the UN to uphold its own decisions and principles regarding Cyprus.
The Ambassador writes that “a total of 975 air and 61 naval violations were observed during this period,’ adding that ‘249 out of the 975 air violations were by Turkish unmanned aerial military vehicles (UAVs) while 151 were by armed military fighter aircrafts.’
The letter further notes that ‘Trkiye carried out unauthorised military exercises in violation of the Republic of Cyprus’ national airspace, for which it illegally issued seven NOTAMs.’ These incidents, the ambassador stresses, are accompanied by ‘continuous violations of the military status quo on the island and near-daily incursions into the buffer zone,’ as well as ‘the continued enhancement of military infrastructure in the already heavily militarized Turkish-occupied areas.’
The Cypriot Permanent Representative describes these developments as part of Turkey’s ‘persistent aggressive behavior in Cyprus,’ warning that such acts are ‘aimed at creating new faits accomplis, undermining both the sense of security of the population and ongoing efforts to resume negotiations.’
Ankara’s conduct, Michael says in the letter, ‘clearly demonstrates intention to perpetuate its illegal military occupation,’ noting that this ‘poses serious risks not only to the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, but also to the stability of the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.’
The letter underscores the urgency of upholding the UN Charter and the principles of international law ‘universally and without exception.’ Ambassador Michael points out that ‘the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States under threat must be safeguarded, irrespective of geography or the passage of time,’ adding that this ‘applies equally to Cyprus, where the issue remains one of military invasion and continued illegal occupation.’
She warns that the situation ‘that Trkiye has created through the use of force and the ongoing violations of human rights and international legality constitutes the true ‘reality on the ground’.’
Given these realities, the letter calls on the Security Council ‘to stand firmly by its own decisions and ensure their implementation,’ cautioning that ‘failure to do so would severely undermine the credibility and authority of the multilateral system.’
Despite these provocations, Cyprus reiterates its diplomatic commitment to a peaceful settlement under UN auspices.
The Government, the letter states, ‘reaffirms its commitment to the UN-endorsed basis for a settlement, namely a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.’ It stresses that ‘despite the obstacles imposed by Trkiye and the Turkish occupation regime, this agreed basis remains the only viable path forward for resolving the Cyprus question.’
The letter concludes by assuring that ‘the Government of the Republic of Cyprus will continue to work closely with Your Excellency, and your Personal Envoy, to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of negotiations, with the ultimate objective of reunifying Cyprus and its people, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.’
The Ambassador requests that the communication and its twelve annexes be circulated ‘as an official document of the eightieth regular session of the General Assembly under agenda item 40, entitled ‘Question of Cyprus’, and of the Security Council.’
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.