The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations, Ambassador Maria Michael, in a letter to the Secretary General of the UN, describes in detail on behalf of the Cypriot government the violations by Turkey of the airspace, territorial waters and international aviation regulations of Cyprus by March 2023 to June 2024.

According to figures cited in the letter, a total of 2,120 air violations and 137 maritime rule violations were recorded. These actions include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Turkish military exercises, which violate the sovereignty of Cyprus. The letter highlights the continued militarization of the occupied territories and the buffer zone, undermining security and efforts for peace negotiations.

“The numerous military violations by the Turkish occupation forces are aimed at creating new fait accompli and undermining both the people’s sense of security and efforts to restart negotiations. These actions reveal Ankara’s intentions to perpetuate its occupation and pose serious risks not only to the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus, but also to the security and stability of the wider Eastern Mediterranean region,” it said.

Mrs. Michael in her letter states that this year marks 50 years since the illegal occupation of 37% of Cyprus by Turkey, with its aggressive actions continuing to destabilize Cyprus and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, and underlines the need for the United Nations to abide by their resolutions to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus.

“This year marks 50 years since the ongoing illegal Turkish occupation in Cyprus. This violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and the tragic consequences it has caused for the island and its people are at the heart of the unacceptable and unsustainable situation we are called upon to overcome. Instead of contributing to a solution, as the invading and occupying power, Turkey is intensifying its efforts to impose a “two-state solution” on the island. Taking a selective approach to Security Council resolutions, Turkey labels them obsolete when they don’t match its word and calls on the international community to “face the realities on the ground”, trying to convince it that the result of its aggression has legitimate results “, the letter states.

In another part of the letter, it is underlined that Turkey’s aggressive actions and rhetoric are a destabilizing factor both in Cyprus and in the wider region, but also that the continuous violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Cyprus, and consequently of the United Nations Charter , demonstrates Turkey’s flagrant disregard for international law.

“This is particularly evident in the case of Famagusta, where the illegal conversion of the fenced area continues unabated, despite the clear appeal of the Security Council (S/PRST/2021/13) to the Turkish side to stop and reverse the violations of the status quo , completely ignoring Council Resolution 550 (1984), which calls for the return of Famagusta to its rightful inhabitants and the transfer of the area to the administration of the United Nations,” it states.

Mrs. Michael emphasizes “that it is necessary for the United Nations to show that there are no double standards in the implementation of the Charter”. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of states under attack must be protected, he says, regardless of the origin of the attacks or how much time has passed and adds that “this is undoubtedly true in the case of Cyprus, where the problem remains, the military invasion and the continued illegal occupation”.

“The situation created by Turkey in Cyprus, through the use of force and the ongoing violations of human rights and international legality, reflects the real “conditions on the ground”: that is, the violations of the Charter and the resolutions of the Security Council have been the rule. It is precisely for this reason that the Security Council must back up its own resolutions and ensure that they make sense. Otherwise, the credibility of the international system is seriously undermined”, says Mrs. Michael in her letter to the UN Secretary General.