The Cyprus Question: At an Impasse for Too Long

This chapter dwells into the Cyprus question to analyse the changing international perception towards what Turkey deems a ‘peace operation on the island’ into an ‘invasion’ and a ‘secessionist act’ that made the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to sanction Turkey to pay 90 million euros. It first analyses the content of the UN Security Council resolutions in a chronological order and identifies the occasional changes in the rather neutral tone of the resolutions to the disadvantage of Turkey. Afterwards, it discusses the legal consequences of the Turkish operations in the island, first in light of the Treaty of Guarantee, and second, in relation to the human rights aspect along with Turkish authorities’ rejection to pay the compensation ordered by the ECtHR on grounds of non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus (RC).