The Republic of Cyprus has strongly condemned the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the Turkish-controlled north of Cyprus for the construction of an undersea natural gas pipeline, describing the agreement as illegal and a further escalation of Ankara’s revisionist policies in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In a statement issued on Friday, Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the planned pipeline, which would link Turkey with the occupied northern part of the island, violates the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
Nicosia also criticised the agreement for being signed during what it described as the illegal visit of Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to the occupied territories.
According to the ministry, the memorandum forms part of Turkey’s long-standing efforts to strengthen its control over the occupied north and deepen its political and economic integration with Ankara.
“The memorandum constitutes another manifestation of Turkey’s revisionist policy in the Eastern Mediterranean and forms part of the ongoing efforts to consolidate the faits accomplis of the occupation and further integrate the occupied territories into Turkey,” the ministry said.
Cyprus stressed that under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), strategic energy infrastructure cannot be developed within the territory or maritime zones of the Republic of Cyprus without the consent of its internationally recognised government.
The ministry argued that any unilateral development of energy projects in Cyprus’ territory or exclusive economic zone without its approval represents a violation of its sovereignty and sovereign rights.
Nicosia also reiterated that Turkey, as the occupying power in northern Cyprus, bears full responsibility for activities carried out in the occupied territories.
The Cypriot government said it would continue raising the issue in international forums, urging Turkey to comply with international law, UNCLOS and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“The Republic of Cyprus will continue to defend its legitimate rights through legal, political and diplomatic means within all competent international organisations, including the European Union,” the ministry said.
The latest dispute comes amid ongoing tensions between Cyprus and Turkey over energy exploration and maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean, where competing claims have repeatedly strained relations between Ankara, Nicosia and other regional states.
