The mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in the Island of Cyprus has been extended for another year by the UN Security Council with its Resolution 2815 (2026), adopted on 30 January 2026. We strongly support the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) concerning this Resolution.

The extension of the UN Peacekeeping Force’s mandate, once again done without obtaining the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side as one of the two sovereign equal peoples on the Island, is contrary to established UN practices and principles. We underline that the Peacekeeping Force is able to carry out its activities in the territory of the TRNC solely on the basis of the goodwill displayed by the TRNC authorities. We emphasize that it is essential to establish a legal basis for the continuation of these activities as soon as possible. Should this not happen in a timely manner, the steps to be taken by the TRNC authorities will have the full support of Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye.

The aforementioned Resolution continues to contain biased references to the construction of the Yiğitler-Pile road. This is a humanitarian project which aims to provide the Turkish Cypriots living in the village of Pile, located in the buffer zone, with direct access to their homeland, the TRNC. The project is still awaiting completion due to the Peacekeeping Force’s failure to implement the understanding previously reached between the UN and the Turkish Cypriot side, because of the pressure of the Greek Cypriot side, which actually has no say whatsoever regarding this matter. We also strongly condemn the Resolution’s omission of numerous violations of the buffer zone by the Greek Cypriot side, most notably the Astromerit-Evrihu highway and the university building in Pile. These violations are increasing on a daily basis while the UN Peacekeeping Force persists in turning a blind eye. We underline that the sovereignty of the Greek Cypriot Administration does not extend to the north of the Island, nor does it encompass the buffer zone in any way. Considering that the Turkish Armed Forces and Türkiye’s effective guarantee, not the UN Peacekeeping Force, are the elements which have maintained peace on the Island for half a century, serious questions arise regarding the raison d’être of the UN Peacekeeping Force, which cannot even display a fair and balanced approach towards both sides in the buffer zone which it administers.

The Security Council Resolution’s ongoing reference to methods that have been tried for decades and have proven to be unsuccessful in resolving the Cyprus issue does nothing to advance the efforts towards a settlement. Moreover, it delays a just, lasting, and sustainable settlement based on the realities on the Island. We call on the UN Security Council to treat the two sides on the Island equally and to finally start exerting sincere efforts for a settlement.

The most realistic solution to the Cyprus issue entails the coexistence of the two states on the Island. We call on the UN Security Council and the international community to accept this reality, to reaffirm the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, namely their sovereign equality and equal international status, and to pave the way for a bright future that will be shaped by the close cooperation of the two neighboring states on the Island, advancing regional stability, development, and prosperity.