Turkey pushes for 'Taiwanization' of occupied Cyprus

According to Kathimerini reporter Pavlos Xanthoulis, Ankara is intensifying efforts to secure international support for the "Taiwanization" of occupied Cyprus by advocating for direct trade and flights from the region, which could bolster the sovereign equality of the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC).

According to the article in this Sunday's Kathimerini, Turkey seeks to revive a European Commission proposal from 2004 that would allow direct trade between the occupied territories and EU member states, a proposal that has been frozen in the European Parliament due to legal concerns.

Ankara's demands include the legalization of the Tympos (Ercan) airport for direct flights, a move that would effectively recognize the TRNC as a separate entity. This demand is linked to the broader objective of securing sovereign equality for the Turkish Cypriots within any future negotiations on the Cyprus issue. Turkish diplomats suggest that implementing these measures would be a significant step towards achieving this goal, without necessarily replacing it.

As the UN General Assembly approaches, international mediators are exploring ways to satisfy Ankara's demands, potentially through written assurances or other diplomatic gestures. However, the Greek Cypriot government remains opposed to these moves, particularly without reciprocal concessions, such as the return of the enclosed city of Famagusta.

Nicosia has historically linked any discussion of direct trade with the lifting of the Turkish embargo on Cypriot-flagged ships and the return of Famagusta. Despite this, Turkey is now pushing for the "3 alphas" (direct trade, direct flights, and direct relations) without offering anything in return. The European Parliament, meanwhile, has kept the Commission's proposal on direct trade in a "frozen" state since 2010, following legal objections that it treated the TRNC as a third country, which would contravene EU law.

The ongoing diplomatic maneuvering reflects Turkey's broader strategy to solidify the TRNC's de facto autonomy and international recognition, potentially complicating future negotiations for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.