In a strictly worded letter to the President of the Security Council, Cyprus denounces the ongoing exploitation of Greek Cypriot property in Turkey -occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, accusing Ankara for systematically violating international law.

In the letter (dated June 20, 2025), the permanent representative of Cyprus to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michael, recalls that from the Turkish invasion of 1974, “Greek Cypriot property owners in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus owned by Turkey”. He emphasizes that “this undisputed event has been confirmed by the ECHR in its relevant decisions in 2001 and 2014 in the transnational case of Cyprus against Turkey”, stressing that “Turkey has not complied with the decision to date”.

The letter is a response to a recent letter from Turkey’s permanent representative, Ambassador Ahmed Yildiz (dated June 10). Ms Michael complains that Turkey is implementing “an active policy of selling and exploiting these property on an industrial scale”, describing it as “methodically and aggressively promoted for many years, in the context of Turkey’s pursuit of a separate state on the island of Cyprus”.

Such policies, he added, are directly violating “the principles of indivisible sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus” and undermine the efforts of the UN Secretary -General to restart negotiations in the agreed framework adopted by the Security Council.

Noting the absence of substantive negotiations in the last eight years, the Cypriot permanent representative notes that this has forced many Greek Cypriot owners to legally appeal against the “unauthorized exploitation of their property, an act which is a criminal offense under the criminal”.

OR Republic of Cyprus, He emphasized, he remains committed “to the principles of the rule of law, the separation of powers and the protection of human rights, which are fundamental principles of any democratic society.”

“Police, in the context of their duty to implement the law, following a formal complaint and according to the data and circumstances, may proceed with criminal investigation,” the letter said, stressing that “these are fundamental principles from which there can be no derogation or derogation”.

Ms Michael stresses that “it is inconceivable that the perpetrator of criminal acts are attempting to appear as a victim of his own illegal acts, while at the same time calling for this illegality to perpetuate in order to continue to reap illegal benefits.”

Cyprus calls on Turkey “to respect its obligations under the UN Charter”, recalling that “it is bound by international human rights law and humanitarian law”.

The termination of the illegal use and sale of private property in the occupied areas is emphasized in the letter, is a key element “to build the confidence required for a successful process of fairly resolving the Cyprus problem in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions”.

Cyprus also calls on the United Nations to reject, as their role requires, “any attempt to neglect legality in order to continue crime based on a well -organized plan”.