Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized his call for international recognition of northern Cyprus during his visit to the region, marking his first official trip after his recent re-election.
Erdogan met with Ersin Tatar, the leader of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is recognized solely by Turkey. Erdogan asserted that recognition of the northern region is essential if negotiations are to resume.
The division of Cyprus dates back to 1974 when the Turkish army intervened in response to a coup to unify the island with Greece.
United Nations peacekeepers maintain a buffer zone between the TRNC and the internationally recognized southern part of Cyprus.
Turkey's push for a "two-state solution" has been met with opposition from Greek Cypriots, who constitute the majority in the south. The Republic of Cyprus, supported by the international community, advocates for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in accordance with the UN framework.
Although Erdogan emerged as the clear winner in the recent election, he faced a significant defeat in the northern part of Cyprus, where his secular rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu secured a lead of 15 points. The northern Cyprus portion of the electorate included nearly 144,000 voters, including Turkish settlers, troops, and Turkish Cypriots with Turkish citizenship.
Economic challenges in Turkey and northern Cyprus contributed to Erdogan's electoral setback. The northern region heavily relies on Ankara for economic support. Some analysts also attributed Erdogan's loss to Kilicdaroglu's party, which took a more conciliatory approach to the status issue during the campaign.
During his visit, Erdogan and Tatar stood firm on their respective positions, rejecting compromises. Erdogan reiterated the clear and unequivocal demands of Turkish Cypriots, highlighting the existence of two distinct communities on the island.
The long-standing dispute over the island's status has been a source of tension in the Mediterranean region for decades, exacerbated in recent years due to the discovery of significant energy resources. It has also strained Turkey's relations with Greece and the European Union. Turkey maintains a military presence of over 35,000 troops in the northern region.
Formal UN-sponsored peace talks have been absent for nearly six years, and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, who won his runoff election in February, seeks greater involvement from the European Union in addressing the Cyprus issue.
