 to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) as an independent state, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced Thursday.){kind=link}
The European Union has rejected recent moves by the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) as an independent state, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced Thursday.
The OTS, which represents a coalition of Turkic nations, granted observer status to the KKTC at its summit this week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a step the EU criticized as a direct challenge to international norms regarding territorial integrity.
Since 1974 Cyprus has been divided between the Greek Cypriot south, which is internationally recognized, and the Turkish Cypriot north, established following a Turkish military intervention in response to a coup aiming to unite the island with Greece.
Despite ongoing United Nations efforts, peace talks have remained stalled since 2017, with the Turkish Cypriot side insisting that negotiations can only resume if their equal sovereignty is recognized.
Borrell’s statement comes in the wake of Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar’s participation in a November 6 summit, where he was welcomed as a guest of honor and delivered remarks, marking a notable shift toward increased diplomatic recognition of the KKTC, which only Turkey formally acknowledges. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also spoke at the summit, calling on Turkic states to support the Turkish Cypriot cause and asserting a responsibility within the “Turkic world” to pursue “a fair solution in Cyprus.”
“The EU rejects the repeated attempts by the OTS to legitimize the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity … by granting OTS observer status,” Borrell said, adding that the EU only recognizes the Republic of Cyprus, in alignment with United Nations Security Council resolutions. The EU has long supported Cyprus’s position that it is the island’s sole legitimate government.
The summit highlighted the deepening rift between the EU and Turkey over the status of northern Cyprus.
The Cypriot Foreign Ministry condemned Tartar’s participation in the summit and Turkey’s continued efforts to strengthen the KKTC’s standing on the international stage. Cyprus accused Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership of undermining the United Nations’ efforts to reach a resolution on the division of the island and of obstructing confidence-building measures that are essential for the resumption of political negotiations.
Borrell, representing the EU’s official position, said the latest developments were “regrettable” and contrary to the principles of the UN Charter on territorial integrity. He emphasized that the EU sees the actions of both the OTS and Turkey as obstacles to progress in Cyprus. The UN, through Secretary-General António Guterres, has sought to resume dialogue on the Cyprus issue, which has been deadlocked for years.
In response, the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement condemning Borrell’s remarks. It accused the EU of bias and described Borrell’s position as an attempt to exert pressure on the member states of the OTS. The ministry called on the EU to stop acting as an “advocate” of the Greek Cypriot government and accused it of unfairly restricting the rights of the Turkish Cypriot population, which has always supported a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem.
Tatar emphasized the importance of the participation of the KKTC in the summit and stated that his government can make a significant contribution to the Turkish world. Erdoğan reiterated this view and pledged Turkey’s support for the KKTC’s diplomatic efforts.
📌Family Photo of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States 📍Bishkek – 6 November 2024
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📌Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı Devlet Başkanları Konseyi Aile Fotoğrafı – 📍Bişkek – 6 Kasım 2024#OTSBishkekSummit2024 #TDTBişkekZirvәsi2024 #ТМҰБішкекСаммиті2024… pic.twitter.com/EdPnlnMzuF— Organization of Turkic States (@Turkic_States) November 6, 2024
The summit was also attended by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who, despite being a member of the EU, posed with Tatar during the official “family photo” and joined Tatar at the leaders’ dinner.
Hungary’s participation has attracted attention, especially as the country will host the European Political Community summit, which will also be attended by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. Borrell had previously criticized Hungary’s participation in OTS events in support of the Turkish Cypriot representation, stating that Hungary had no EU mandate to advance relations with the OTS on the matter.