A letter to the UN denouncing the illegal memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the pseudo-state regarding the construction of the illegal undersea natural gas pipeline, was sent by Cyprus’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ms. Maria Michael.
The letter states that Turkey’s attempt to construct the undersea natural gas pipeline constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“Turkey seeks to create yet another strategic infrastructure link, permanently connecting the occupied part of Cyprus with mainland Turkey. This is part of Turkey’s long-standing policy of creating facts on the ground,” it states, among other things, and urges the UN to send a message to Turkey to comply with its obligations under international law, to respect the sovereignty the Republic of Cyprus, and to refrain from implementing the illegal pipeline.
The letter in full:
At the behest of my Government, I wish to bring to your attention and strongly protest the signing, on July 10, 2026, an illegal “memorandum of understanding” between Turkey and the illegal separatist entity in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus under Turkish military occupation, which concerns the construction of a bidirectional undersea natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey with the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. The signing of the so-called “memorandum of understanding” constitutes yet another deliberate and provocative act by Turkey, in violation of international law, including the relevant Security Council resolutions on Cyprus.
Preparatory activities for the implementation of the so-called “memorandum of understanding” appear to have already begun. Specifically, on July 21, 2026, Turkey issued a maritime warning regarding the deployment of the research vessels Oruç Reis, Denar Explorer, Denar Pathfinder, and Denar Surveyor in connection with preliminary research activities related to the proposed project.
Although these initial activities are reportedly taking place within Turkish territorial waters, they clearly demonstrate Turkey’s intention to proceed with the implementation of the illegal memorandum. The so-called “memorandum of understanding” is null and void and, as such, has no legal force whatsoever. The illegal secessionist entity established in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus lacks international legal personality and has no authority under international law to concludeor to approve projects that affect the territory, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus.
Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) of the Security Council explicitly declared the so-called secessionist entity legally invalid and called upon all states not to recognize it or facilitate it in any way.
Turkey’s attempt to construct the undersea natural gas pipeline, along with any related offshore and onshore infrastructure projects, is being carried out without the permission or consent of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, in complete disregard of its sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction.
The construction of an undersea pipeline in the occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus, which also passes through its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone/continental shelf, constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and an infringement of its rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone/continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the relevant provisions of which reflect customary international law.
In particular, the attempted implementation of the proposed project violates the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over its territory and territorial waters, as it is being carried out without its authorization, and infringes upon its rights and jurisdiction as a coastal state to regulate activities that affect its natural resources and the marine environment within its exclusive economic zone/continental shelf.
Turkey’s latest provocation coincides with a particularly sensitive juncture, as efforts continue to resume negotiations aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Rather than helping to create conditions conducive to the success of this process, such unilateral actions undermine trust between the two communities and seek to predetermine the island’s future through irreversible developments.
Turkey seeks to establish yet another strategic infrastructure link, permanently connecting the occupied part of Cyprus with mainland Turkey. This is part of Turkey’s long-term policy of creating facts on the ground, with the aim of further consolidating its political, economic, and strategic control over the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus and to reinforce the consequences of its ongoing military occupation.
This latest development cannot be viewed in isolation. It follows the illegal construction and operation of an undersea water pipeline between Turkey and the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus and is part of a broader and systematic policy aimed to integrate the occupied territory into Turkey’s political and economic structures, thereby reinforcing the occupied territories’ dependence on Turkey and further entrenching the illegal partition of the island. Furthermore, the proposed undersea natural gas pipeline should not be viewed merely as an energy infrastructure project between Turkey and the illegal separatist entity in the occupied territories.
From Turkey’s perspective, this two-way infrastructure ultimately aims to facilitate the future transport of natural gas reserves to be extracted from maritime areas over which the Republic of Cyprus exercises sovereignty and sovereign rights, a fact that raises additional legal and political concerns regarding Turkey’s intentions and plans.
This development is being examined in the context of the illegal drilling and seismic surveys conducted by Turkey in the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone/continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus during the period 2019–2020, in violation of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus under international law, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In light of this, my Government respectfully requests your assistance in conveying a clear message to Turkey that it must fully comply with its obligations under international law, respect the sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus, and refrain from implementing the illegal “memorandum of understanding” for the construction of an undersea natural gas pipeline connecting Turkey to the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, and to immediately cease all related activities.
Such unilateral actions, especially when accompanied by provocative statements and attempts to create new facts on the ground, do not contribute to peace, stability, or reconciliation.
On the contrary, they undermine trust between the two communities, hamper the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Good Offices Mission, harm the prospects for resuming substantive negotiations, and further entrench the division of the island.
I would be grateful if this letter were circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda items 40 and 75, and published on the website of the Directorate of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as in the next issue of the Law of the Sea Bulletin.
Source: cnn.gr
