The Necessity of Recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Light of the Latest Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean

The Necessity of Recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Light of the Latest Developments in the Eastern Mediterranean Ersin Tatar President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Ersin Tatar was born in 1960 in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. He completed his primary and secondary education in Cyprus and his High School and University education in England. After graduating from Cambridge University in 1982, he worked in the UK Headquarters of Price Waterhouse, the most important auditing and financial consultancy company in the world, until 1986. He worked as the Finance Manager at Polly Peck Company in England between 1986- 1990, at FMC-Nurol Defense Industry Inc. in Ankara between 1990-1992, and as Financial Affairs Coordinator at Show TV between 1992-2001. In 1996, he founded "Kanal T", the first private television channel of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In the 2009 general elections, he was elected as a deputy from the UBP and entered the parliament. Ersin Tatar, who served as the Minister of Finance in 2009, was elected as the Chairman at the UBP Congress held in 2018. He became the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on May 22, 2019. He became the 5th President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by winning the first round on October 11 and the second round on October 18, 2020.

Received: 28.10.2022 Accepted: : 19.11.2022

How to cite: Tatar, E. (2022). The necessity of recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in light of

6 the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. BRIQ Belt & Road Initiative Quarterly, 4(1), 6-13.

SUMMARY The details of the Cyprus issue are not very well known except for experts working on this issue, but it is a vital subject for the Turkish World. The honorable struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people for centuries is not just a struggle for existence. It also includes many global and local struggles. It is not correct to see this struggle only as a Turkish-Greek struggle. This struggle, at the same time, is the struggle for the existence of Turkishness on the island, the heroic struggle of an oppressed people, who are numerically a minority, against the aggressive majority, a struggle for a civilizational conflict, and in a way, it is the question of the West’s domination over the East, which has been going on for centuries in different dimensions. Turkish Cypriots defended their destinies by giving great struggles on the island, gained their freedom as a result of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which we established in 1983, became the second Turkish state in the Turkish World to gain its independence other than the Republic of Türkiye. Cyprus is of great importance in terms of the security of the Republic of Türkiye, the continental shelf, the Exclusive Economic Zone, the control of the airspace, and the strategic defense depth of Türkiye. The TRNC is not simply a piece of land for Türkiye and the Turkish world. The point that the honorable struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people with their blood and life for more than half a century should reach, is an internationally recognized, sovereign, and independent state. A new era has begun, in which new decisions will be implemented and the equal sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot People will be at the forefront.

INTRODUCTION understood by everyone that it is the only key to

lasting and sustainable peace in Cyprus. WHILE ENTERING THE PRESIDENTIAL The details of the Cyprus issue are not very well elections of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus known except for experts working on this issue, but (TRNC) held in October 2020, my main goals in my it is a vital issue for the whole Turkish World. The presidential candidacy declaration titled "A New Era, honorable struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people for A New Vision" are; the TRNC should be kept alive centuries is not just a struggle for existence. It also and glorified, the Turkish Cypriot People should includes many global and local struggles. It is not live in prosperity and security, our relations with the correct to see this struggle only as a Turkish-Greek

Motherland Türkiye should be developed in a healthy struggle. This struggle is also the struggle for the

way, our State should take the place it deserves in the existence of Turkishness on the island, the heroic

world and the possible solution in Cyprus should struggle of an oppressed people, who are numerically

be based on the existence of two separate sovereign a minority, against the aggressive majority, the

equal states. I explained this vision to our people and struggle to protect our culture, religion, and identity,

asked for their support. Our people have shown their a struggle for a civilizational conflict, and in a way,

support for this vision-based solution by electing me the domination of the West, over the East which has

as the President of their own free will. been going on for centuries in different dimensions.

I sincerely believe that our solution proposal, Deriving from these points, in this article I will try

based on the confirmation of our sovereign equality to explain the political future of the TRNC and its vital

and equal international status, which I put forward importance for the Turkish World in light of the latest

before and during the Presidential elections, and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, through

which envisages institutional cooperation between three main interrelated topics: Cyprus negotiation

the parties, is just and necessary not only in the process and a solution based on the existence of two

Island but also in the Eastern Mediterranean region, sovereign equal states, TRNC’s political future in the

considering the latest developments in the broader Eastern Mediterranean, its importance for Türkiye

region and beyond. I firmly believe this will be and the necessity of recognizing the TRNC.

Geographical location of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (BRIQ , 2022BRIQ (2022). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

The Cyprus Negotiation Process and the It soon became clear that Makarios words were not

Solution Based on the Existence of Two just rhetoric. In the December 21 attacks, which went

Equal Sovereign States down in history as the "Bloody Christmas" attacks,

the Greek army, equipped with heavy weapons, syste-

The first point to be underlined regarding the Cyp- matically attacked the Turks.

rus issue is the emphasis that the Republic of Cyprus, As a result of these attacks, more than a quarter of

which was established on 16 August 1960, has a sui the Turkish Cypriot population was forced to leave

generis character, which is unique and has no other their homes in mixed villages and migrate to villages

example, since it is not similar to the founding trea- and areas inhabited only by Turks. Turkish Cypriots

ties of any other country. Contrary to many other sta- were condemned to live in 39 isolated areas spread

tes in the world, the Republic of Cyprus was founded over the island, surrounded by Greek armed forces.

on principles and regulations, based on the vested The Greek-occupied government did not provide any

equality of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples on services to the areas protected by the Turkish Cypriot

the Island, where one side cannot establish superio- mujahedeen, and thousands of Turkish Cypriots were

rity over the other. This point is very important and deprived of their most basic needs. Moreover, dozens

constitutes the essence of the Cyprus issue. of Turks, who had to leave their regions to work and

Archbishop Makarios, the Greek leader and the meet their other needs, were kidnapped and murde-

President of the Republic of Cyprus at that time, did red by the Greeks. After 1963, the so-called Republic

not accept the political equality of the Turkish Cyp- of Cyprus turned into a Hellenic state, in violation of

riots since the establishment of the Republic, insisted the constitution and international treaties.

at every opportunity that "Cyprus is a Hellenic island" As a reflection of all these, the Cyprus negotiation

and that "the Turkish minority cannot interfere with processes, which started in 1968, have not reached a

the political will of the Greek majority". According to positive result until today due to the uncompromi-

Makarios, the establishment of the Republic of Cyp- sing and negative attitude of the Greek Cypriots. The

rus was a stepping stone for the Greeks’ eternal poli- main reason for the deadlock in Cyprus is the Greek

tical goal, enosis the annexation of Cyprus to Greece. side’s never-changing obsession with being the sole

ruler of the Island and its unwillingness to share the in their international status, which is recognized in

administration and wealth with the Turkish Cypriots. accordance with international treaties. This can only

What the Greek side understands from a fede- be possible with the existing two-state reality and ar-

ral-based agreement is to patch the Turkish Cypriot rangements that will not impose the sovereignty of

people as a minority into the so-called Republic of one side on the other.

Cyprus, which turned into a Hellenic state after Tur- After I was elected as President, I brought up our

kish Cypriot people were expelled by force from the solution proposal which envisages institutional co-

Republic of which they were a founding partner. The operation between two sovereign equal states, also

Greek position is the removal of Türkiye’s guaran- supported by the most powerful country in the re-

torship and thus by removing Turkish soldiers from gion, that is Motherland Türkiye. I have consistently

Cyprus to reach its final political objectives. With emphasized that there will be no turning back from

the self-confidence of being an internationally re- our proposed solution, and this is the only solution

cognized government on the island, the Greek Cyp- based on the realities of Cyprus that not only bene-

riot administration will never give up on this policy. fitted both Sides but also the regional countries.

The results of the 2004 Annan Plan Referendum and In the informal Cyprus conference in 5+1 format,

the collapse of the 2017 Crans-Montana talks despite which was held in Geneva, Switzerland on 27-29

all the concessions made by the Turkish side showed April 2021, under the leadership of United Nations

the whole world that a bi-zonal and bi-communal (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the

federal solution in Cyprus has now been exhausted. participation of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot Par-

ties and the guarantor countries of Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom, I presented a 6-item proposal for a permanent solution in Cyprus to the Uni- It is a necessity to go beyond stereotypes ted Nations and all the interested parties. With this and established parameters in order to proposal, for the first time, our solution proposal baachieve consensus in Cyprus. sed on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two Sides was put on the table.

All these facts show that the Turkish and Greek The essence of the Turkish Cypriot proposal is

peoples of the island, who have a bloody past, dif- the UN Secretary-General taking the initiative and

ferent languages, religions, cultures, and lifestyles, passing a new UN resolution and reaffirming the

cannot live together with a federal solution, and recognition of the inherent sovereign equality and

even if this is achieved with a forced treaty, this will equal international status of the State of the Turkish

not last long. Therefore, it has become evident which Cypriot people, through which a cooperative relati-

solution model cannot work in Cyprus. Until today, onship can be established between the two existing

the solution in Cyprus has always been perceived by States on the Island. This would pave the way for

the international community as satisfying the wishes results-oriented, time-framed negotiations toward a

of the Greek side and the so-called "reunification" of realistic and sustainable settlement. Such a coopera-

the Island. However, the changing international and tive relationship needs to be based on the following

regional conjuncture shows that this perception is principles and arrangements:

wrong day by day. 1. The Secretary-General is to take an initiative so

It is a necessity to go beyond stereotypes and es- that the Security Council adopts a resolution in whi-

tablished parameters in order to achieve consensus ch the equal international status and sovereign equa-

in Cyprus. A just, sustainable, and lasting solution in lity of the two sides is secured. Such a resolution will

Cyprus can only be achieved by the reflection of the form the new basis for the establishment of a coope-

equality of the two sovereign peoples on the Island rative relationship between the two existing States.

President Erdoğan welcomed President Ersin Tatar with an official ceremony. (October 26, 2020October 26 (2020). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.) (Website of the Presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 2020Website of the Presidency of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (2020). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

2. Once the equal international status and sovere- ted that a bi-regional and bi-zonal federal solution

ign equality of the two sides is secured through the has now become a Greek thesis and that the Turkish

above-mentioned arrangement, they will enter into side’s solution proposal passes through a new solution

results-oriented, time-framed negotiations, on this based on sovereign equality and equal international

new basis, under the auspices of the UN Secretar- status. Therefore, our vision has also been announced

y-General to establish a freely-reached and mutually by the highest UN representative.

acceptable cooperative agreement. At the meetings I held with Guterres in Brussels

3. The negotiations will focus on the future relati- on June 25, 2021 and in New York on 25 September

onship between the two independent States, property, 2021, and at the informal tripartite meeting held in

security, and border adjustment, as well as relations New York by Guterres on 27 September 2021 and in

with the EU. the presence of the President of the Greek Cypriot

4. The negotiations will be supported by Türkiye, Administration Nikos Anastasiades, I once again exp-

Greece, and the UK, as well as, where appropriate, the ressed our views on the Cyprus issue and once more

EU as an observer. confirmed that the equality and international status of

5. In the context of any agreement the two States the Turkish Cypriot people is essential for the start of

will mutually recognize each other; the three Guaran- official negotiations.

tor States will support this. If the Greek-Cypriot side can get rid of the obses-

6. Any agreement to be reached as a result of these sion of being the sole ruler of the island and evaluate

negotiations will be submitted for approval in separa- the Turkish side’s proposal with a pragmatic mentality,

te simultaneous referenda in the two States. it will gain great benefits from such a solution. The

In Geneva, we both recorded these proposals in only way for the Greek Cypriot side to normalize its

the official UN records and announced them to the relations with Türkiye and for all sides to benefit from

whole world. In the closing speech of the informal the rich hydrocarbon resources around the island is

conference, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sta- to make an agreement with the Turkish Cypriot side.

The Importance of the TRNC in the Eastern will control about 72% of the Aegean Sea if it extends

Mediterranean its continental shelf to 12 miles. If Cyprus comes un-

der Greek-Cypriot sovereignty with a federal structure,

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean both Türkiye’s security will be in danger and Turkish

after Sicily and Sardinia. The island has a unique stra- ships will become virtually unable to sail to the open

tegic and geographical location and importance in the seas.

Eastern Mediterranean. Due to this special location, the Again in this context, strategic products, and oil im-

geo-strategic importance of Cyprus, which has been a ports will be of vital importance in case of any crisis or

center of attraction for many civilizations throughout armed conflict in which Türkiye could be involved. If a

history, has always remained constant. 68% of the wor- single country controls the whole of Cyprus, as in the

ld’s known oil reserves and 41% of natural gas reserves Aegean, Türkiye will have difficulty in ensuring the se-

are located in the Middle East region, which is conne- curity of its supply routes.

cted to the Mediterranean. 70% of Europe’s hydrocar- An indispensable dimension of the importance of

bon consumption passes through the Eastern Medi- Cyprus for Türkiye stems from the Turks living on the

terranean. Therefore, Cyprus Island is in a geography island. The island remained under Turkish rule for ap-

where energy resources in the Middle East, Caucasus, proximately 350 years between 1571 and 1914. In this

and Central Asia are open to the outside world. The im- period, Turks brought to Cyprus from various parts of

portance of Cyprus has increased even more recently Anatolia formed the ancestors and origins of today’s

with the natural gas resources discovered in the Eastern Turkish Cypriots, and Cyprus became a Turkish home-

Mediterranean. land.

Cyprus also acts as a jumping-off point, supply faci-

lities, and forward base for intervention in crisis areas The necessity of Recognition of TRNC

in the Middle East. The island of Cyprus is a valuab- In recent years, there have been critical developments

le base for military build-up, and air and naval forces. in Cyprus and in the region. In this connection, the

For this reason, the UK maintains its bases in Cyprus, geopolitical situation in the Eastern Mediterranean

despite closing many of its bases around the world. To has turned into a new struggle over hydrocarbon re-

summarize, Cyprus has often been described as a "su- sources.

bmarine that never sinks", due to its proximity to the While Türkiye which has the longest seashore on

Middle East and the Suez Canal, its strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean and is only 70 km far from

the Mediterranean. Cyprus, is trying to be excluded from the political

Cyprus also occupies a particularly important strate- equation in the Eastern Mediterranean while some re-

gic position for the security of the Republic of Türkiye. gional actors and global powers continue their efforts

Cyprus is only 40 nautical miles (70 km) from Türkiye. to establish dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The island of Cyprus is of great importance for Türkiye This situation led to an intense and complex political

in terms of providing a safe exit to the Mediterranean struggle, as well as the intensification of tension and

from the south, controlling the maritime transport lines military activities in the region.

in the region, controlling the territorial sea, continental From the Turkish side’s point of view, the "Blue Ho-

shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone, airspace, and strategic meland" lies at the heart of this struggle. Considering

defense depth of Türkiye. Türkiye’s homeland, the Blue Homeland corresponds

The fact that Türkiye is surrounded by Greek islands to more than half of these lands. Blue Homeland is a

in the Aegean Sea and all the islands except Gökçeada challenge to the policies that try to isolate Türkiye and

and Bozcaada have been lost to Greece further incre- the TRNC from the seas. There is no difference betwe-

ases the importance of Cyprus for Türkiye. Greece, en claiming any land in Türkiye and the TRNC and

which currently controls about 44% of the Aegean Sea, claiming a territory within the Blue Homeland.

Despite their limited population, land area, and mi- this historic call, the inclusion of the call to "recognize

litary and economic power, Greece and the Greek Cyp- the TRNC" in the declaration of the National Security

riot Administration (GCA) follow an expansionist po- Council of the Republic of Türkiye dated September

licy in the Eastern Mediterranean by using the islands, 28, 2022, gave very important messages that irreversib-

which are their only trump card in the political sense. ly changed the paradigms in Cyprus politics. All these

At every opportunity, they show their aim to shrink developments show that the elements put forward by

Turkish territorial waters by 3.5 times and reduce it to Mr. Erdogan on behalf of the Republic of Türkiye are

41 thousand square kilometers and therefore, confine not a temporary position but a state decision.

Türkiye to the Gulf of Antalya by ignoring the rights of The TRNC State, which meets all the conditions of

Türkiye and the as envisaged in the Sevilla Map. being a state defined by international conventions, also

has the capacity to establish relations with other countries. TRNC has representations in 20 different count-

The TRNC State meets all the ries, including its Embassy in Ankara and Consulate

conditions for being a state and has Generals in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Mersin, Trabzon,

the capacity to establish relations with and Gaziantep. Although the international community

other countries. does not officially recognize it, there is the TRNC re-

ality on land, at sea, and in the air. Every country in

At this point, the importance of the TRNC emerges the world, especially the Greek-Cypriot side, knows

once again. The Blue Homeland doctrine can only sur- very well where the sovereignty of the TRNC begins

vive if the TRNC exists. For Türkiye to defend its legal and ends. There are two separate States on the island of

and political rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, re- Cyprus, which are different from each other and have

cognition of the TRNC’s sovereignty over land, sea, and been separated for half a century, with their own insti-

air is essential. Again, in this context, this is the only tutions, legislative, executive, and judicial organs.

way to prevent the maximalist and expansionist steps The issue of how the future of the TRNC should be

that Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration will shaped is now one of the common issues that the Tur-

take by ignoring Türkiye’s Exclusive Economic Zone. kic World needs to solve. We believe that the closer,

As a result, the dissolution of the TRNC, which collaborative and intense relations Türkiye developed

is the mainstay of Turkish sovereignty in the Eastern with the Turkic World in this period triggered impor-

Mediterranean, will mean that Türkiye is isolated tant dynamics in every field, especially in the political

from the Eastern Mediterranean and imprisoned in and economic fields. The key to paving the way for

the Gulf of Antalya. In other words, the recognition of our two-state solution proposal will undoubtedly be

the TRNC has now become a must for Türkiye. It has the further development of our existing relations with

gained great importance to ensure the international Motherland Türkiye and friendly and brotherly count-

recognition of the Turkish Cypriot State, which has ries. It is of great importance that the Turkic World,

maintained its existence effectively with its instituti- which shares the same values as the TRNC, under the

ons since 1974, in order to protect the rights of Türki- leadership of Türkiye, establish a strong coalition and

ye and the TRNC in the Eastern Mediterranean in an actively implement the policy understanding for the

effective and de facto manner. recognition of the TRNC.

At this very point, the President of the Republic of In this context, if the Organization of Turkish States

Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech at the 77th was established under the leadership of the Republic of

UN General Assembly on September 20, 2022, in New Türkiye, TRNC should naturally take its rightful place

York, called on all countries to "recognize the TRNC", as the second Turkish State that gained its independen-

while creating a new era for the TRNC, and on the way ce in the Turkic World. I have consistently expressed

to recognition which was the first step taken. After our wish and desire on this matter. We are so happy that

at the 9th Organization of the Turkic States Leaders’ importance of trust and stability, especially in the

Summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the observer Eastern Mediterranean. There is no doubt that there

membership of the TRNC was unanimously accepted. is a solution to all the problems experienced on the

Our state gained this status for the first time in an in- continental shelf and energy resources in the Eastern

ternational organization with its constitutional name, Mediterranean. For this, all neighboring countries

namely the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. should seek solutions in common sense by showing

This milestone that will go down in the pages of his- the necessary respect for each other’s rights.

tory is an additional source of pride for us. In this context, a fair, realistic, practical, and

Again, as a start, the participation of Turkish Cyp- sustainable agreement in Cyprus can only be reached

riot Youth in sports and cultural activities to be held with cooperation based on the existing realities on the

in the Turkic World and increasing their visibility will Island, namely two separate Peoples and two separate

act as a pioneer in eliminating this shame of humanity. States, and the sovereign equality of the two States

The Organization of Turkic States can undoubtedly be and their equal international status. With this new

the main part of the bridge we will build from the Eas- solution proposal based on a "win-win" approach,

tern Mediterranean to Central Asia in order to stren- both sides will gain many political and economic

gthen the bonds of brotherhood between us, protect gains. This model will also not only ensure that the

the Turkic World from common dangers, and support island is an island of peace, tranquility, and stability

this rightful struggle of the TRNC in search of status. but also act as a catalyst for solving the problems in

Concentrating on initiatives for the recognition of the Eastern Mediterranean and the region.

the TRNC by the Turkish World will facilitate the es- Although the international community does not

tablishment of a permanent and fair peace agreement officially recognize it, there is the TRNC reality on

between the parties. Increasing recognition and visi- land, at sea, and in the air. According to international

bility will ease the pressures on the TRNC and Türki- law, the TRNC has a legitimate state structure that

ye, change the ground of negotiations and meetings, meets all conditions. We see that the TRNC, which

and cause the Greek Cypriot Administration to adopt has full-fledged institutions and organizations, is in

a more constructive and conciliatory attitude. a much better situation than the well-known state,

which deals with many socio-economic and political Conclusion problems. In addition, when we see many people

Turkish Cypriots defended their destinies by giving who want to become a state in the world but have not

great struggles on the island, gained their freedom succeeded, we once again understand how important

as a result of the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, and our state is and that we cannot take a step back. At this

the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which we point, where the interests of Türkiye and the TRNC

established in 1983, became the second Turkish state completely coincide, it is of great importance for the

in the Turkic World to gain its independence after the TRNC to be strengthened internally and externally.

Republic of Türkiye. Cyprus is of great importance As a final word, I would like to express that the

in terms of the security of the Republic of Türkiye, honorable struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people

the continental shelf, the Exclusive Economic Zone, with their blood and life for more than half a century

the control of the airspace, and the strategic defense should reach to the attainment of an internationally

depth of Türkiye. In other words, Cyprus is not simply recognized, sovereign, and independent state. The

a piece of land for Türkiye and the Turkish world. fire of struggle has been started. A period has begun

On the other hand, recent developments in the when new decisions will be implemented, the equal

Mediterranean have increased the importance sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people will be at

of the region. Especially the developments after the forefront and the equal international status of the

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine showed once again the Turkish State in Cyprus will be established.