Cyprus Mission to the UN in a letter dated May 11 2026 has formally rejected the claims contained in Turkey’s letter of 16 February 2026, stressing that ‘there is only one State in Cyprus,’ represented by ‘the sole legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus since its establishment in 1960’.
The letter recalls that the ‘unlawful use of force by Trkiye’ in 1974 and the ‘continuing unlawful occupation’ of part of Cypriot territory do not affect the Republic’s sovereignty ‘over the entirety of its territory and enjoys all the rights deriving under international law’.
The Mission also refers to Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), noting that the Council deplored the purported secession of part of Cyprus and considered the declaration of the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ legally invalid.
It underlines that the illegality of the so-called ‘TRNC’ stems from its establishment ‘as a result of unlawful use of force’ and ‘other egregious violations of norms of general international law, in particular those of a peremptory character as confirmed by the International Court of Justice in the 2010 Kosovo Advisory Opinion’.
Consequently, Cypriot Mission underscores, the entity ‘lacks international legal personality’ and has ‘no capacity to conclude international agreements,’ making any such agreements ‘null and void ab initio under international law.’
On maritime issues, Cyprus states that the claims submitted by Trkiye through geographical coordinates have ‘no legal basis whatsoever’ and do not create legal obligations for Cyprus or any third State.
It rejects Trkiye’s position that islands are not entitled to maritime zones beyond a territorial sea, calling it ‘false and entirely unfounded’ and contrary to article 121(2) of UNCLOS. According to the letter, the maritime area claimed by Trkiye is ‘excessive, unreasonable and encroaches on Cyprus’s lawful rights over its maritime zones in violation of the international law, including customary international law as reflected in UNCLOS’.
Cyprus further recalls that it has previously rejected Turkish submissions concerning the alleged outer limits of Trkiye’s continental shelf, including through letters dated 24 April 2020 and 20 January 2020. At the same time, it emphasizes its readiness for diplomacy, stating that Cyprus has ‘consistently underlined the importance of conducting meaningful negotiations’ with Trkiye ‘in accordance with international law.’
Finally, Cyprus reiterates that it has called on Turkey to negotiate ‘in good faith’ on maritime delimitation north and west of the island. It also recalls its proposal for a special agreement with Turkey to refer the issue to the International Court of Justice, so that a definitive maritime boundary for the continental shelf and EEZ may be established ‘in conformity with international law.’
‘If Turkey feels so confident about its legal positions, this proposal enables these arguments to be placed before the International Court of Justice, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations’ Cyprus Mission says.