Christodoulides to present TRNC-Turkey memorandum and NAVTEX to European leaders

Greek Cypriot administration leader Nikos Christodoulides plans to raise the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the TRNC, along with a NAVTEX issued by Turkey, with European leaders at the European Council summit in Brussels, according to Fileleftheros. The summit begins tomorrow and ends on Friday.

Christodoulides will describe the memorandum and the NAVTEX as “illegal activity” against the “Republic of Cyprus” and “challenges within Cypriot territorial waters.” He is expected to say the NAVTEX, announced by Turkey on 30 September 2026, lies within so-called “Republic of Cyprus territorial waters” and that its timing was set one day before “independence day” on 1 October. The summit agenda includes cheaper energy and new EU support efforts, as well as European policy and the economy.

Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos briefed EU counterparts on the same issues at the Foreign Affairs Council recently. He said Turkey's actions were illegal, targeted the “Republic of Cyprus” and violated international law and so-called sovereign rights. Kombos also said the administration filed 659 violation complaints with the UN in July alone concerning alleged airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone violations.