Nicosia denounces a new escalation of Turkish actions against the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in a letter from its Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Maria Michael to the UN Secretary-General, dated October 21, 2026.
The letter concerns undersea surveys related to the planned natural gas pipeline between Turkey and the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus. It follows up on a previous letter, dated August 7, 2026, regarding the “illegal ‘memorandum of understanding’” signed on July 10, 2026, between Turkey and the “illegal secessionist entity” in the areas under Turkish military occupation.
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According to the letter, on September 30, Turkey issued an unauthorized maritime warning regarding “scientific research and underwater operations” by the Turkish-flagged research vessels Oruç Reis, Denar Pathfinder, Denar Echo, and Kirici, for the period from October 1 to 25, 2026. As of the date of this letter, the activities were ongoing.
The Cypriot side reports that the operations were being conducted in the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus, “without the permission or consent of the Republic of Cyprus.” As it points out, these activities constitute a further step toward the construction of the pipeline and “violate the sovereignty, the rights, and the jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus” under international law, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In particular, the letter emphasizes that conducting surveys and laying a subsea pipeline within the territorial sea without the Republic’s authorization and consent constitute a violation of its sovereignty. It refers, among other things, to Articles 2 and 19 of the Convention, noting that they reflect customary international law.
“Since no such authorization or consent has been requested or granted by the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey has no legal basis to undertake these activities within the Republic’s territorial sea,” the statement emphasizes.
Regarding the corresponding activities in the EEZ and on the continental shelf, Nicosia invokes Articles 58(3) and 79(2), (3), and (4) of the Convention. It points out that the Republic’s rights and jurisdiction as a coastal State with regard to natural resources and the marine environment must be respected, characterizing Turkey’s actions as a direct violation of its obligations under international law.
Beyond the legal dimension, the letter highlights the broader political and strategic implications of a permanent undersea energy connection with the occupied territories. Such infrastructure, it warns, would constitute “a further attempt to create irreversible facts on the ground” that affect the territory and maritime zones of the Republic of Cyprus and further entrench the integration of the occupied areas into Turkey.
Nicosia reiterates that the Republic of Cyprus is the only internationally recognized state in Cyprus and calls on Turkey to respect its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. “Any steps toward the implementation of the so-called ‘memorandum of understanding,’ including any preparatory or related activities, are illegal and must cease immediately,” it emphasizes.
In conclusion, the Republic of Cyprus reaffirms its sovereignty over its entire territory and territorial sea, as well as its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its EEZ and continental shelf. It declares its determination to continue to exercise, defend, and protect these rights and jurisdiction in good faith and in accordance with international law, “using all peaceful means at its disposal.”
It also requests that the letter and its annex be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 39 and 74, and their publication on the website of the Directorate of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea and in the next issue of the Law of the Sea Bulletin.
