Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has reportedly raised the issue of legal action against Turkish Cypriots accused of seizing Greek Cypriot properties in the north during a key meeting with the United Nations envoy.

Speaking after a two-hour session with his “cabinet” on Wednesday, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said the matter was brought up directly with UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar.

According to statements carried by the Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK, Tatar said it was “unacceptable for the Greek Cypriot administration to launch a surprise attack on the property issue” while diplomatic groundwork is being laid for the resumption of the 5+1 talks on Cyprus, expected to be held in July.

He claimed the pressure being created by “southern Cyprus” was causing concern in the “TRNC”, the Turkish-backed breakaway entity in the north, which remains internationally unrecognised.

“I told Holguin that she must speak to the UN secretary-general about this issue,” Tatar added. He urged Antonio Guterres to personally intervene.

Tatar also said he had spoken with Ankara earlier in the day and that Fidan had raised the same concerns during his meeting with Holguin on Monday.

“We are working to find the best possible solution to this issue,” he said, without providing further details on any proposals.

The property question remains one of the most sensitive and complex aspects of the Cyprus problem, particularly after recent cases in the republic of Cyprus targeting individuals involved in selling or exploiting Greek Cypriot-owned land in the north.

No official comment has yet been made by the UN or Holguin’s office regarding the meetings.