Cyprus tells UN Turkey’s occupied-area gas pipeline deal is illegal

Politics Cyprus problemnatural gasTop Newsturkey Cyprus tells UN Turkey’s occupied-area gas pipeline deal is illegal Ohe Nekri Zoni Relevant News Cyprus tells UN Turkey’s occupied-area gas pipeline deal is illegal 22 August 2026 Paphos vandalism spree hits 10 businesses, police hunt four suspects 22 August 2026 Iran condemns US plans to announce new sanctions 22 August 2026 newsroom 22 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus has filed a complaint with the United Nations over a memorandum between Turkey and the occupied areas of Cyprus for the construction of an undersea natural gas pipeline, calling the agreement illegal. In a letter to the UN, Cyprus’s Permanent Representative, Maria Michael, said the memorandum was invalid because it was signed with the unrecognised separatist regime in the occupied areas. The letter said Turkey’s pipeline project is being carried out without the consent of the Cyprus government and constitutes a “violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.” Turkey is seeking to create another strategic infrastructure link, permanently connecting the occupied part of Cyprus to mainland Turkey, the letter said, describing this as part of Turkey’s long-standing policy of creating facts on the ground. Cyprus urged the UN to send Turkey a clear message to comply with its obligations under international law, respect Cyprus’s sovereignty, and refrain from carrying out the illegal pipeline project. According to the letter, the “memorandum of understanding” was signed on July 10, 2026, between Turkey and the illegal separatist entity in the areas under Turkish military occupation, covering the construction of a bi-directional undersea gas pipeline linking Turkey with the occupied areas. Cyprus called the signing a deliberate and provocative act by Turkey that breaches international law, including UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus. Preparatory work for the project appears to have already begun, the letter said. Turkey issued a maritime advisory on July 21, 2026, for the deployment of the research vessels Oruç Reis, Denar Explorer, Denar Pathfinder and Denar Surveyor for preliminary survey work related to the project. While that initial activity is reported to be taking place within Turkish territorial waters, Cyprus said it clearly shows Turkey’s intent to proceed with the illegal memorandum, which it described as void and without legal force. The letter said the separatist entity has no international legal personality and no authority under international law to sign international agreements or approve projects affecting Cyprus’s territory, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. Cyprus cited UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), which declared the separatist entity legally invalid and called on all states not to recognise it or assist it in any way. The letter said the pipeline project, along with any related offshore or onshore infrastructure, is proceeding without the Cyprus government’s permission, in what it called complete disregard for its sovereignty, rights and jurisdiction. Construction of an undersea pipeline through occupied territory, as well as through Cyprus’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, violates the country’s sovereignty and infringes its rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the letter added. Cyprus said Turkey’s latest move comes at a particularly sensitive time, as efforts continue to resume negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, and that unilateral actions of this kind undermine trust between the two communities and seek to prejudge the island’s future through irreversible steps. The development follows the illegal construction and operation of an undersea water pipeline between Turkey and the occupied areas, the letter said, and forms part of a broader, systematic policy aimed at integrating the occupied territory into Turkey’s political and economic structures, deepening its dependence on Turkey and further entrenching the island’s division. Cyprus said the proposed gas pipeline should not be seen merely as an energy project between Turkey and the separatist entity. The bi-directional infrastructure is ultimately intended, from Turkey’s side, to facilitate the future transport of gas extracted from maritime areas over which Cyprus exercises sovereignty and sovereign rights, the letter said, raising additional legal and political concerns about Turkey’s intentions. Cyprus said the development should be viewed alongside Turkey’s illegal drilling and seismic survey activity in Cyprus’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone and continental shelf during 2019-2020. Cyprus asked the UN to convey a clear message to Turkey to fully comply with its obligations under international law, respect Cyprus’s sovereignty, rights and jurisdiction, refrain from implementing the illegal memorandum, and immediately end all related activity. Such unilateral actions, Cyprus argued, do not contribute to peace, stability or reconciliation, but instead undermine trust between the two communities, complicate the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission, harm the prospects of resuming substantive negotiations, and further entrench the island’s division. Cyprus asked for the letter to be circulated as a UN General Assembly document under agenda items 40 and 75, and published on the website of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as in the next edition of the Law of the Sea Bulletin. (Information from CNN Greece) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Paphos vandalism spree hits 10 businesses, police hunt four suspects Iran condemns US plans to announce new sanctions Statos-Agios Fotios fire contained, six aircraft deployed Larnaca driver hospitalised after car catches fire following crash Cyprus on “Red Alert” for wildfires Sunday Broken-down truck closes lane on Limassol-Paphos motorway Cyprus expert reassures public on West Nile virus spread Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.