Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Maria Michail, reported, in a letter dated 30 June 2025, violations by Turkish forces against Cyprus between July and December 2024, citing a total of “989 air and 45 naval violations”, including 264 involving Turkish military UAVs.
As she noted, Turkey also “illegally issued 5 NOTAMS and 12 NAVTEX” to conduct military exercises breaching Cyprus’ airspace.
“These actions constitute a violation of the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Cyprus, and consequently of the UN Charter,” Ambassador Michail noted, adding that such conduct “undermines regional stability, peace, and the prospects for a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue within the framework of the Security Council resolutions”.
Αmbassador Michail also denounced Turkey’s actions in the buffer zone and in the fenced-off area of Varosha, highlighting Ankara’s “disregard for international law.” She stressed that “the unlawful transformation of the fenced area continues unabated” despite Resolution 550 (1985) and the Security Council’s clear calls.
“The continuous upgrading of military infrastructure in the already densely militarized occupied areas constitutes but a fragment of Türkiye’s persistently aggressive behaviour in Cyprus. Such actions are revealing of Ankara’s intentions in perpetuating its occupation and entail grave risks not only for Cyprus’ security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also for the securityand stability of our already troubled region,” she said.
She also accused Turkey of “promoting a two-state solution while diplomatic efforts are underway to resume negotiations”.
“Unfortunately, this effort continues to be undermined by the insistence of the Turkish side on positions that fall squarely outside the established UN parameters regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem. At the same time, this unacceptable stance is being increasingly manifested in provocative actions on the ground in Cyprus, as well as through the intensified efforts to promote the international upgrading of the secessionist entity,” she said.
She added that “following an a-la carte approach to Security Council resolutions, Turkey choses to brand these as obsolete when they do not fit its discourse and calls on the international community to “face the realities on the ground” in an attempt to convince that the result of its aggression is a valid legal effect”.
Ambassador Michail pointed out that “the Republic of Cyprus remains committed to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as set out in UN Security Council Resolutions, despite the stumbling blocks placed before us by Türkiye and its subordinate local administration.”
Also she underscored that the government of the Republic of Cyprus is intent on exerting every possible effort in cooperation with the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to create the conditions for a return to formal negotiations, with the aim of reunifying Cyprus and its people.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on March 17-18. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced in early May the appointment of María Angela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, who is tasked to reengage with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holguín completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’.
UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.
On October 8, 2020, the Turkish side opened part of the fenced area of Varosha, following an announcement made in Ankara on October 6. Then, in July 2021, Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, announced a partial lifting of the military status in Varosha.
