Foreign relations of Northern Cyprus
Encyclopedia
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
, due to its unrecognized status internationally, is dependent on Turkey
to facilitate its contacts with the international community. Northern Cyprus is a self-proclaimed entity, its relations with the rest of the world are further complicated by a series of United Nations
resolutions which have declared it legally invalid and consider the territory de jure
part of the Republic of Cyprus
. A UN Referendum on settling the Cyprus dispute
was rejected by the Greek Cypriots
and accepted by the Turkish Cypriots
in 2004. Since then, the European Union
has declared its intentions to assist in reducing the economic isolation of Northern Cyprus and began giving aid to the territory (see Northern Cyprus and the European Union
).
At the present time, only Turkey maintains a formal embassy in the TRNC
, while the TRNC has an embassy
and consulates in Turkey. In various other countries, the TRNC has unofficial representative offices which serve as de facto
consulates. Turkey represents the TRNC's interests in countries without such offices. In Northern Nicosia
(the Turkish Cypriot administered northern half), both the British High Commissioner
to Cyprus and the United States Ambassador
to Cyprus have their formal residences, though since these residences had been in use since before 1963, it is not indicative of formal recognition of the TRNC by the United Kingdom
or United States
. Additionally representative offices in Northern Cyprus are maintained by Australia
, France
, Germany
and the European Union
.
Azerbaijan
and Gambia have recently announced their willingness to eventually formally recognize the TRNC. They so far have not followed through, but their informal contacts have increased. Also, diplomats from other countries have recently officially visited the TRNC Embassy in Ankara
to hold meetings with the TRNC Ambassador. The latest nation to state their intention to (positively) change its policy towards TRNC is Paraguay
.
The Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan
(part of the Republic of Azerbaijan) had issued a resolution in the mid-1990s recognizing TRNC’s independence, but Azerbaijan
itself has yet refrained to officially support this decision due to the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. Azerbaijan is sympathetic to the TRNC, but the Republic of Cyprus would recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic if Azerbaijan did officially recognize TRNC.
Honorary Representatives are also appointed by the TRNC in various other cities to represent the TRNC and to assist the primary TRNC Representative Offices.
serves as the Foreign Minister. He replaced Turgay Avcı
in 2009.
resolutions and the policy of the entire international community which refuses to recognise the TRNC. The government of the Republic of Cyprus regards the TRNC in such terms as: "illegitimate entity", "Turkish military occupied territory" and "a puppet state
of Turkey". Phraseology such as "pseudo" or "so-called" are used by the Cyprus Government to describe government officials and institutions in the TRNC.
The TRNC President is referred to simply as the "Turkish Cypriot Leader" by the Cyprus Government, the EU and the United Nations. (It is however interesting to note that under the 1960 Constitution of Cyprus, the Leader of the Turkish Cypriots is regarded as the Vice-President of the Republic of Cyprus with wide veto powers, but this status has not been acknowledged by the government of the Republic of Cyprus since December 1963. Due to this stance, the TRNC refuses any official recognition of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, calling it the "Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus", and referring to its President as the "Greek Cypriot Leader". Turkey
backs this position).
After Cyprus
became a member of European Union
, only the south part
of island participated in the Customs Union of EU. The North part of island is excluded from the Customs Union of EU. Though that, Green line regulations eased to trade between North Cyprus and EU.
Oil exploration in East Mediterranean became a problem between the administrations of the north and the south side
since 2000. The EU member Greece supports the south
whereas EU-candidate Turkey supports the north.
in 2004. The TRNC views the EU accession as illegal as they had not been consulted (as the 1960 constitution stipulates), and that the Cyprus Government does not represent the Turkish Cypriot populace. Legally, the EU regulations cover the whole island, but in practice, only the southern portion of the island enjoys the benefits of EU membership.
The government of the Republic of Cyprus has used their EU position to veto promised aid packages from the EU to the TRNC, and are using their membership to add pressure on Turkey to end their support for the TRNC. This is being viewed in an increasingly negative way by countries such as Britain
and the United States
, though Turkey's non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus despite its signing of the customs union
between itself and the EU is an additional bone of contention.
Legally, the EU continues to consider Northern Cyprus as EU territory under foreign military occupation and thus indefinitely exempt from EU legislation until a settlement has been reached. The number of seats assigned to Cyprus in the European Parliament (6 seats) is based on the population of the entire island, despite the fact that not many residents of Northern Cyprus participated in the last election. Unlike the 1960 constitution where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were voting separately their members in the Cypriot Parliament, until the solution of the Cyprus Problem, because of the current status quo
, the Turkish Cypriot voters can vote only together with Greek Cypriots for Cypriot Members of the European Parliament
. In the last European Parliament elections
, 97 Turkish Cypriots voted. There is no support as yet for admitting two Cypriot member states into the EU.
and calling upon other UN member nations not to recognize it. The policy of the UN is to reunify both communities under a federal structure. The TRNC calls the UN action hypocritical, given their recognition of Bangladesh
in 1972 after it broke off from Pakistan
. The United Nations still maintains a United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) along the Green Line since 1963. The existence of UNFICYP on the island of Cyprus is only due to the consent of the administration of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey
and Turkish Cypriot side reject the ignorance of permission of Turkish Cypriot side, and state that the permission and consent of North Cyprus must be taken as well in existence of UNFICYP.
. This was in reaction to employment shortages and an increase in crime. This was the first major area of disagreement between TRNC and Turkey, as Turkey wants to preserve the Turkish majority demographic status quo through continued ethnic Turkish migration
.
In late 2006, the Turkish military objected to President Talat's decision to remove a footbridge located on the Turkish side of the Ledra Street Barricade. President Talat made it clear that the decision to demolish the footbridge was the sole prerogative of the TRNC Government.
does not recognize TRNC as a separate entity and, as such, all mail addressed to the TRNC will be returned to the sender as 'undeliverable', TRNC-bound mail has to be routed through Turkey first (mail must be addressed to Mersin
10, TURKEY). However, the TRNC postage stamps — unlike postage stamps from Rhodesia
between 1965–80 — are recognized.
. Some observers believe that with the continued chipping away of the embargo, the TRNC could end up with a political status similar to that of the Republic of China
(which has diplomatic relations with only 23 states
, but otherwise no barriers to trade, tourism, and sport and de facto relations with most countries in the world in the form of "economic and cultural" offices). Other observers doubt that this will ever be possible given the complicated international law and human rights issues involved. In any case under international law all states are obliged to abide with the UN Security Council resolutions (550, 541), though a loophole in those resolutions (phrased calls upon rather than directs nations not to recognize TRNC) means that the final decision on recognition rests with individual states.
The TRNC fully supports Turkey's bid to join the European Union. As part of this bid, Turkey recently signed a protocol extending its customs union
to the new EU members, including the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey does not recognise. Turkey made sure this was not tantamount to recognition with the inclusion of a declaration, stipulating their continued policy of non-recognition of what they describe as the "Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus" until a settlement is reached. This declaration is not accepted by the EU which did not accept this statement as forming part of the acquit and expects Turkey to fully abide to its obligations against the Republic of Cyprus. The TRNC views any move by the EU to force Turkish recognition of the Republic of Cyprus as an effort to cut them off from their base of support. Turkey has pledged not to abandon the TRNC, but the upcoming negotiations with the EU will put this pledge sorely to the test.
On 18 February 2008, the President of the TRNC congratulated the people of Kosovo
on their new-found independence, in direct opposition to the Republic of Cyprus, which rejects Kosovo's declaration of independence
, but not Turkey, which was the fifth country to recognise Kosovo. However, presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica stated that the TRNC was not preparing to officially recognize Kosovo.
On 2 September 2008, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey announced that if Turkey recognized the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia
, Russia would recognize TRNC as an independent country. Later, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected this variant.
.
It also is a member of Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture
(Türksoy).
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus or North Cyprus , officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus...
, due to its unrecognized status internationally, is dependent on Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to facilitate its contacts with the international community. Northern Cyprus is a self-proclaimed entity, its relations with the rest of the world are further complicated by a series of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
resolutions which have declared it legally invalid and consider the territory de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
part of the Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. A UN Referendum on settling the Cyprus dispute
Cyprus dispute
The Cyprus dispute is the result of the ongoing conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, over the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus....
was rejected by the Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community at 77% of the population. Greek Cypriots are mostly members of the Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity...
and accepted by the Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots are the ethnic Turks and members of the Turkish-speaking ethnolinguistic community of the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The term is used to refer explicitly to the indigenous Turkish Cypriots, whose Ottoman Turkish forbears colonised the island in 1571...
in 2004. Since then, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
has declared its intentions to assist in reducing the economic isolation of Northern Cyprus and began giving aid to the territory (see Northern Cyprus and the European Union
Northern Cyprus and the European Union
Northern Cyprus and the European Union have somewhat strained relations based on the fact the European Union does not recognise Northern Cyprus and sees it as a military occupation of one of its member states.-Legal situation:Due to the Cyprus dispute, Northern Cyprus is only recognised by the EU...
).
Diplomatic representations
At the present time, only Turkey maintains a formal embassy in the TRNC
Embassy of Turkey in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
The Embassy of Turkey to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is located in the Turkish Sector of Nicosia, just outside the walls of the Old City...
, while the TRNC has an embassy
Embassy of Northern Cyprus in Ankara
The Embassy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Turkey is the TRNC's only official embassy abroad as Turkey is the only nation thus far to recognize the TRNC as an independent state...
and consulates in Turkey. In various other countries, the TRNC has unofficial representative offices which serve as de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
consulates. Turkey represents the TRNC's interests in countries without such offices. In Northern Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
(the Turkish Cypriot administered northern half), both the British High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Cyprus and the United States Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Cyprus have their formal residences, though since these residences had been in use since before 1963, it is not indicative of formal recognition of the TRNC by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Additionally representative offices in Northern Cyprus are maintained by Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and Gambia have recently announced their willingness to eventually formally recognize the TRNC. They so far have not followed through, but their informal contacts have increased. Also, diplomats from other countries have recently officially visited the TRNC Embassy in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
to hold meetings with the TRNC Ambassador. The latest nation to state their intention to (positively) change its policy towards TRNC is Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
The Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan
Nakhichevan
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,363 km² and borders Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest...
(part of the Republic of Azerbaijan) had issued a resolution in the mid-1990s recognizing TRNC’s independence, but Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
itself has yet refrained to officially support this decision due to the Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
issue. Azerbaijan is sympathetic to the TRNC, but the Republic of Cyprus would recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
Republic if Azerbaijan did officially recognize TRNC.
Honorary Representatives are also appointed by the TRNC in various other cities to represent the TRNC and to assist the primary TRNC Representative Offices.
Foreign Representations
United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia have representation offices in Northern Nicosia. As well, Northern Cyprus has a number of representations in other countries with various status.Foreign Minister
National Unity Party Party member Hüseyin ÖzgürgünHüseyin Özgürgün
Hüseyin Özgürgün is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. From 23 April to 17 May 2010 he was also Acting Prime Minister.- References :...
serves as the Foreign Minister. He replaced Turgay Avcı
Turgay Avci
Turgay Avcı is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. He is also the Leader of the Reform Party .Avcı was born in Larnaca in 1959...
in 2009.
Republic of Cyprus
The internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus refuses to give any official status to the government of the TRNC, and actively dissuades any other country from doing so. This policy is in line with the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
resolutions and the policy of the entire international community which refuses to recognise the TRNC. The government of the Republic of Cyprus regards the TRNC in such terms as: "illegitimate entity", "Turkish military occupied territory" and "a puppet state
Puppet state
A puppet state is a nominal sovereign of a state who is de facto controlled by a foreign power. The term refers to a government controlled by the government of another country like a puppeteer controls the strings of a marionette...
of Turkey". Phraseology such as "pseudo" or "so-called" are used by the Cyprus Government to describe government officials and institutions in the TRNC.
The TRNC President is referred to simply as the "Turkish Cypriot Leader" by the Cyprus Government, the EU and the United Nations. (It is however interesting to note that under the 1960 Constitution of Cyprus, the Leader of the Turkish Cypriots is regarded as the Vice-President of the Republic of Cyprus with wide veto powers, but this status has not been acknowledged by the government of the Republic of Cyprus since December 1963. Due to this stance, the TRNC refuses any official recognition of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, calling it the "Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus", and referring to its President as the "Greek Cypriot Leader". Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
backs this position).
After Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
became a member of European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, only the south part
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
of island participated in the Customs Union of EU. The North part of island is excluded from the Customs Union of EU. Though that, Green line regulations eased to trade between North Cyprus and EU.
Oil exploration in East Mediterranean became a problem between the administrations of the north and the south side
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
since 2000. The EU member Greece supports the south
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
whereas EU-candidate Turkey supports the north.
North Cyprus
Negotiations between both Cypriot communities have been complicated by the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in 2004. The TRNC views the EU accession as illegal as they had not been consulted (as the 1960 constitution stipulates), and that the Cyprus Government does not represent the Turkish Cypriot populace. Legally, the EU regulations cover the whole island, but in practice, only the southern portion of the island enjoys the benefits of EU membership.
The government of the Republic of Cyprus has used their EU position to veto promised aid packages from the EU to the TRNC, and are using their membership to add pressure on Turkey to end their support for the TRNC. This is being viewed in an increasingly negative way by countries such as Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, though Turkey's non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus despite its signing of the customs union
Customs union
A customs union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff. The participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas...
between itself and the EU is an additional bone of contention.
Legally, the EU continues to consider Northern Cyprus as EU territory under foreign military occupation and thus indefinitely exempt from EU legislation until a settlement has been reached. The number of seats assigned to Cyprus in the European Parliament (6 seats) is based on the population of the entire island, despite the fact that not many residents of Northern Cyprus participated in the last election. Unlike the 1960 constitution where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were voting separately their members in the Cypriot Parliament, until the solution of the Cyprus Problem, because of the current status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
, the Turkish Cypriot voters can vote only together with Greek Cypriots for Cypriot Members of the European Parliament
Members of the European Parliament for Cyprus 2009–2014
This is a list of the 6 Members of the European Parliament for Cyprus in the 2009 to 2014 session, ordered by name. See European Parliament election, 2009 for election results.*Takis Hadjigeorgiou, Progressive Party of Working People,...
. In the last European Parliament elections
European Parliament election, 2009 (Cyprus)
The European Parliament election of 2009 in Cyprus was the election of the delegation from Cyprus to the European Parliament in 2009.-References:*...
, 97 Turkish Cypriots voted. There is no support as yet for admitting two Cypriot member states into the EU.
United Nations
In 1983, the United Nations issued two Security Council resolutions calling the TRNC's UDI illegitimateDeclaration of Independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Eight years after the Turkish Federative State of North Cyprus was proclaimed , the UDI of North Cyprus was presented to the Northern Cypriot Parliament in North Nicosia by Turkish Cypriot Leader/Northern Cypriot State President Rauf Denktaş on November 15, 1983...
and calling upon other UN member nations not to recognize it. The policy of the UN is to reunify both communities under a federal structure. The TRNC calls the UN action hypocritical, given their recognition of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1972 after it broke off from Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The United Nations still maintains a United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) along the Green Line since 1963. The existence of UNFICYP on the island of Cyprus is only due to the consent of the administration of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Turkish Cypriot side reject the ignorance of permission of Turkish Cypriot side, and state that the permission and consent of North Cyprus must be taken as well in existence of UNFICYP.
Turkey
In 2005, moves were made by TRNC to regulate Turkish migrantsNaturalized TRNC citizens
Naturalized Northern Cyprus Citizens are persons granted Citizenship by the Government of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey and the non-sovereign autonomous region of Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan.-Republic of Cyprus viewpoint:...
. This was in reaction to employment shortages and an increase in crime. This was the first major area of disagreement between TRNC and Turkey, as Turkey wants to preserve the Turkish majority demographic status quo through continued ethnic Turkish migration
Naturalized TRNC citizens
Naturalized Northern Cyprus Citizens are persons granted Citizenship by the Government of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized only by Turkey and the non-sovereign autonomous region of Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan.-Republic of Cyprus viewpoint:...
.
In late 2006, the Turkish military objected to President Talat's decision to remove a footbridge located on the Turkish side of the Ledra Street Barricade. President Talat made it clear that the decision to demolish the footbridge was the sole prerogative of the TRNC Government.
Universal Postal Union
The Universal Postal UnionUniversal Postal Union
The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...
does not recognize TRNC as a separate entity and, as such, all mail addressed to the TRNC will be returned to the sender as 'undeliverable', TRNC-bound mail has to be routed through Turkey first (mail must be addressed to Mersin
Mersin
-Mersin today:Today, Mersin is a large city spreading out along the coast, with Turkey's second tallest skyscraper , huge hotels, an opera house, expensive real estate near the sea or up in the hills, and many other modern urban...
10, TURKEY). However, the TRNC postage stamps — unlike postage stamps from Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
between 1965–80 — are recognized.
Outlook
Despite the TRNC's lack of international diplomatic recognition, sympathy for the Turkish Cypriot people has increased since their support for reunification in the failed 2004 referendum on the Annan PlanAnnan Plan for Cyprus
The Annan Plan was a United Nations proposal to resolve the Cyprus dispute, reuniting the breakaway Northern Cyprus with the Republic of Cyprus. The proposal was to restructure Cyprus as the "United Cyprus Republic", which would be a federation of two states. It was revised a number of times before...
. Some observers believe that with the continued chipping away of the embargo, the TRNC could end up with a political status similar to that of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(which has diplomatic relations with only 23 states
Foreign relations of the Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, is recognized by sovereign states. The course of the foreign relations of the ROC is dominated by maintaining diplomatic relations with these countries, as well as unofficial relations with other countries via its de facto embassies and...
, but otherwise no barriers to trade, tourism, and sport and de facto relations with most countries in the world in the form of "economic and cultural" offices). Other observers doubt that this will ever be possible given the complicated international law and human rights issues involved. In any case under international law all states are obliged to abide with the UN Security Council resolutions (550, 541), though a loophole in those resolutions (phrased calls upon rather than directs nations not to recognize TRNC) means that the final decision on recognition rests with individual states.
The TRNC fully supports Turkey's bid to join the European Union. As part of this bid, Turkey recently signed a protocol extending its customs union
Customs union
A customs union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff. The participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas...
to the new EU members, including the Republic of Cyprus, which Turkey does not recognise. Turkey made sure this was not tantamount to recognition with the inclusion of a declaration, stipulating their continued policy of non-recognition of what they describe as the "Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus" until a settlement is reached. This declaration is not accepted by the EU which did not accept this statement as forming part of the acquit and expects Turkey to fully abide to its obligations against the Republic of Cyprus. The TRNC views any move by the EU to force Turkish recognition of the Republic of Cyprus as an effort to cut them off from their base of support. Turkey has pledged not to abandon the TRNC, but the upcoming negotiations with the EU will put this pledge sorely to the test.
On 18 February 2008, the President of the TRNC congratulated the people of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
on their new-found independence, in direct opposition to the Republic of Cyprus, which rejects Kosovo's declaration of independence
2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
, but not Turkey, which was the fifth country to recognise Kosovo. However, presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica stated that the TRNC was not preparing to officially recognize Kosovo.
On 2 September 2008, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey announced that if Turkey recognized the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
and Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
, Russia would recognize TRNC as an independent country. Later, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected this variant.
International membership
The TRNC is an observer member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation under the title "Turkish Cypriot State". It also participates in the work of the Economic Cooperation OrganizationEconomic Cooperation Organization
The Economic Cooperation Organization is an intergovernmental organization involving seven Asian and three Eurasian nations, part of the South-central Asian Union. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve development and promote trade, and investment opportunities. The ECO is an ad hoc...
.
It also is a member of Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture
Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture
The Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture is an international cultural organization of countries with Turkic populations, speaking languages belonging to the Turkic language family....
(Türksoy).
See also
- Embassy of Turkey in the Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusEmbassy of Turkey in the Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusThe Embassy of Turkey to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is located in the Turkish Sector of Nicosia, just outside the walls of the Old City...
- Embassy of Northern Cyprus in AnkaraEmbassy of Northern Cyprus in AnkaraThe Embassy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Turkey is the TRNC's only official embassy abroad as Turkey is the only nation thus far to recognize the TRNC as an independent state...
- List of diplomatic missions in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- Politics of the Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusPolitics of the Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusPolitics of Northern Cyprus takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state and the prime minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power...
- Turkish Cypriot diasporaTurkish Cypriot diasporaThe Turkish Cypriot diaspora is a term used to refer to the Turkish Cypriot community living outside the island of Cyprus.-History:In 1914, Britain annexed the island of Cyprus when the Ottomans joined World War I against the Allied Forces...
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus diplomatic missions
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Representative Office to the United States