Letter From TRNC Representative to the UN: Greek Cypriot Side Must Recognise the Realities on the Island

The letter, addressed to Security Council President Jérôme Bonnafont, was delivered through Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ahmet Yıldız. It was issued in response to statements made by the Greek Cypriot Permanent Representative during a Security Council session on UN peacekeeping operations.

In the letter, Dana accused the Greek Cypriot side of “distorting history” and asserted that the Greek Cypriot administration is responsible for both the creation and perpetuation of the Cyprus problem. He stated that the presence of Turkish military forces in Cyprus does not constitute an “occupation” and has never been defined as such in Security Council resolutions.

Reiterating long-standing TRNC objections, Dana underlined that the Greek Cypriot administration does not represent the entire island and that the presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) requires the consent of both sides. He argued that UNFICYP’s operations continue in violation of the principle of consent.

Calling on the Greek Cypriot side to recognise the “realities of today” and the “inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” Dana emphasised that the rightful counterpart of the Greek Cypriot side is not Türkiye but the Turkish Cypriots.