Greece Rejects OIC Resolutions on Cyprus, Cites Violations of International Law

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has faced criticism from Greece over its stance on the Cyprus issue. During a UN Security Council briefing, Greece's Deputy Permanent Representative, Ioannis Stamatekos, emphasized the need for strict compliance with Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550, which condemn the unilateral declaration of independence by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Stamatekos highlighted that the OIC has attributed observer status to the secessionist entity since 2004, despite the Security Council's clear condemnation of its declaration of independence. Greece expressed concern over OIC resolutions that contravene international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council resolutions, and stressed the importance of forging honest relationships between the UN and regional organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• Greece emphasized the need for strict compliance with Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550, which condemn the unilateral declaration of independence by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
• The OIC has attributed observer status to the secessionist entity on Cyprus since 2004, despite the Security Council's clear condemnation of its declaration of independence.
• Greece expressed concern over OIC resolutions that contravene international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council resolutions, including the recognition of a "Turkish Muslim Minority of Western Thrace" and a "Turkish Muslim Population in the Dodecanese".
• Greece highlighted that these references are factually incorrect and contravene international law, citing the Treaty of Lausanne.
• Stamatekos stressed the importance of forging honest relationships between the UN and regional organizations, and expressed regret that past efforts to raise these concerns with the OIC Secretariat have not borne fruit.

Statistics:

• The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established in 1974 following Turkey's invasion of Cyprus.
• Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks between 1974 and 2025 have failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence.
• The latest round of negotiations ended inconclusively in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana.
• A second informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format was held in New York on July 16-17, 2025.

Sources:

• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
• UN Security Council briefing
• Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Treaty of Lausanne (1923)
• Reuters "Greece rejects OIC resolutions on Cyprus as 'unsubstantial'"