Diplomacy

Recognition diplomacy for TRNC begins with Turkic states

Published

27.12.2022 17:41

Having struggled for recognition as an independent state for 39 years, the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) has crossed a significant threshold by becoming an observer member of the OTS (Organization of the Turkic States). “It is of great importance that a strong coalition is formed by intensive cooperation with the Turkic World and that the policy toward the recognition of the TRNC is actively put into practice,” says Prof. Hüseyin Işıksal.

Following the 2017 breakdown of the Crans Montana negotiations, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which has existed as an independent state despite all embargoes for 39 years, has based its policy on sovereign equality and equal international status. The TRNC’s unnamed recognition policy since 2017 was concretized by the address of President Tayyip Erdoğan to the UN Security Council (UN). With the TRNC’s admittance as an observer member of the OTS, a significant milestone was reached in the struggle being carried out in this context. Then, critical steps were taken. Following Gambia Vice President Badara Joof’s visit to the island to meet with TRNC President Ersin Tatar, a joint meeting between the ruling parties of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and TRNC was held in Cyprus. Even though there is still a long way before Cyprus to go to be recognized as an independent state, patient and determined struggle is not alien to the Turkish Cypriots.

At a press conference on 19 December titled “Three States One Nation”, AK Party Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş (right), New Azerbaijan Party Deputy Chairman Tahir Budagov (left) and TRNC National Unity Party Secretary General Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu. PHOTO: Ali Ruhluel/AA

‘Doing the same thing and expecting different results is pointless’

International Relations and Diplomacy Special Advisor to the President of the TRNC, and Member of the Negotiation Committee, Prof. Hüseyin Işıksal talks to Harici about the roadmap to be followed by the TRNC in the diplomacy of recognition as well as the role that this new strategy will play in the ongoing conflict over the Eastern Mediterranean.

Do the efforts to be recognized as an independent state indicate that a new UN negotiation process based on the “one state” model of Turkiye and the TRNC is off the table? Or will the new recognition initiative be carried out in tandem with the UN negotiation process?

In the presidential candidacy declaration titled “A New Era, A New Vision” in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus elections held in October 2020, Ersin Tatar stated that any viable solution for Cyprus should be predicated on the presence of two sovereign and equal states. He appealed for the Turkish Cypriot people’s support, saying that a solution based on federation was exhausted at the time. By freely voting for Mr. Tatar as President, the Turkish Cypriot people have indicated their support for this vision-based approach.

The facts on the ground in Cyprus demonstrate that the Turkish and Greek people, who share a troubled history with power asymmetry and have different races, languages, religions, cultures, and lifestyles, would not be able to coexist peacefully under a federal solution. This reveals that a federal solution would be short-lived even if this is attempted through the use of a coerced treaty. In the words of Albert Einstein, ‘insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’ The insistence on a federal solution by the Greek Cypriot side will waste time and perpetuate the status quo, which harms all parties. It is now apparent which model cannot be applied in Cyprus.

In this context, the negotiation committee headed by TRNC President Ersin Tatar, of which I am a part, presented new solution proposals to the United Nations at the 5+UN informal negotiations held in Geneva on 27-29 April 2021. Accordingly, the committee proposed that a fair, realistic, and sustainable agreement honoring the Turkish Cypriot people’s long-devoted struggle for existence and statehood can only be reached by a collaboration of two states with sovereign equity and equal international status. The Turkish Cypriot side has always stated that formal negotiations can only begin on condition that the Turkish Cypriot people’s vested sovereign equity and equal international status have been confirmed. As things stand, compromising our statehood in no way will we confidently continue along this path open to reconciliation and cooperation.

‘No letup in the pace of struggle’

The TRNC has taken a significant step forward with its admittance to the OTS as an observer member. How will the following step be carried out? Is there a roadmap for this new recognition diplomacy?

President Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic call at the 77th General Assembly of the United Nations address to all world leaders for the formal recognition of the TRNC is crucial. It marks a new landmark in the history of the Turkish Cypriot people. By making this call, Mr. Erdogan has done more than merely protect the Turkish Cypriots and their legitimate independence; he has also become their voice at the United Nations, where they are not allowed to be represented.

Soon after this call, at the 9th Organization of the Turkic States Leaders’ Summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, our state was unanimously admitted as an observer member for the first time under its constitutional name, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is a historical step toward international recognition. From this moment forward, we will no longer be subjected to procedures that would keep us in the status of minority.

Compared to many globally recognized states, fulfilling all the conditions of statehood with its full-fledged institutions and organizations, the TRNC is much more socio-economically and politically advanced. The TRNC is slowly yet gradually gaining acceptance from the international community. These days when we celebrate the 39th anniversary of our Republic, we will not rest on our laurels and continue our noble struggle with the tremendous momentum that this positive development encourages. It is of great importance to form a solid cooperation under the leadership of Turkiye with the Turkic world sharing the same values with the TRNC and to vigorously implement the policy for the recognition of the TRNC. The decision of the Organization of Turkic States to admit the TRNC as an observer member will also help to eliminate the unfair imbalance of status in Cyprus and ensure a just reconciliation based on sovereign equality on the island.

‘Geopolitical equation may shift in the Eastern Mediterranean’

Is the current polarization in the Eastern Mediterranean to be affected by Turkiye’s “normalization” measures towards Egypt? How do you see the situation developing in that part of the world?

If Turkiye’s “normalization” efforts toward Egypt pan out, we can expect the geopolitical equation in the Eastern Mediterranean to shift dramatically. Recently discovered hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean have opened up new possibilities for regional collaboration. However, the maximalist demands and ambitions of the Cypriot Greek and Greek sides have had a disastrous economic impact on other coastal European and Mediterranean states. Should the maritime zone issues in the Eastern Mediterranean be settled fairly, the region will face even more significant political challenges. Such a great upheaval will benefit no party.

The main challenge here is that Turkiye, which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean and is barely 70 km away from the island of Cyprus, is being attempted to be left out of the political equation in the region. Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration’s (GCA) primary foreign policy move is to immediately appeal to and forge an alliance with a country whenever it has a problem, no matter how negligible, with Turkiye. Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration mainly intend to confine Turkiye to the Gulf of Antalya by reducing Turkiye’s Exclusive Economic Zone by 3.5 times with the so-called Sevilla map they have created. All regional states, particularly Israel and Egypt, will benefit significantly if they sign maritime authorization agreements with Turkiye. I believe that the ‘containment’ strategy of the Greek-Cypriot Greek duo will fail, and the geopolitical equation in the Eastern Mediterranean may entirely change with the new strategic relations Turkiye has established with the regional countries.

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Diplomacy

European leaders accuse Putin of undermining peace talks in Istanbul

Published

18 hours ago

16/05/2025

Harici.com.tr

Leading diplomats from the European Union (EU) have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of undermining the process by refusing to participate in peace negotiations planned for May 15 in Türkiye, aimed at ending the conflict with Ukraine.

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Poland, Czechia, and Estonia made strong statements on the matter.

Delegations from the warring countries are already in Türkiye. The Ukrainian delegation is effectively headed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while the Russian delegation is led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that Zelenskyy showed good faith by coming to Türkiye, but where Putin should have been seated, there remained “an empty chair.”

Barrot stated, “Putin is trying to buy time, and it is clear that he does not want to enter into peace negotiations, despite US President Donald Trump expressing his readiness and willingness to mediate.”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made a similar statement. The Minister expressed, “Putin is exaggerating his position. The whole world expects him to finally fulfill the demand to sit at the negotiating table with a delegation appropriate to the seriousness of the situation.”

According to Wadephul, Zelenskyy’s willingness to engage in direct dialogue with Putin deserves respect, but the Russian side “is not showing a sign that it is approaching the negotiations seriously.” Wadephul warned that this behavior would not be without consequences and that Europe was discussing further sanctions.

On the other hand, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking at a high-level meeting of NATO diplomats in Antalya, argued that the Kremlin’s decision to send a low-level delegation to the negotiations in Istanbul showed that Putin was “trying to buy time.”

Sikorski added, “We hope that the US President sees this cynicism for what it is and draws the right conclusions.”

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that Putin’s refusal to meet Zelenskyy directly in Istanbul showed the Russian President’s cowardice.

The Minister remarked, “The real question is whether this can be called a peace negotiation. Putin is clearly afraid. He sent one of the ideological figures, which in itself is a signal of how he is approaching this, meaning not very positively.”

Lipavský also added that his counterparts attending the informal meeting in Antalya expressed a shared view that Putin’s actions showed he did not want to take a step forward.

The Czech Minister said, “European leaders clearly stated that new sanctions could be forthcoming.”

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also criticized the level of the Russian delegation tasked with conducting the first direct talks with Kyiv in three years.

Tsahkna declared, “Russia’s rejection of a ceasefire and sending an ultra-nationalist with no political status to Istanbul instead of Putin is a slap in the face to Ukraine and its allies. Russia is still not interested in peace, which means we need to increase pressure.”

Lipavský and Barrot also shared a photo taken with US Senator Lindsey Graham. The two ministers reported that the congressman confirmed the US was ready to tighten sanctions on Russia if Putin continued to stand in the way of peace.

Putin had proposed the first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since spring 2022 take place in Istanbul on May 15. This offer came in response to a demand from the US and EU countries for a 30-day ceasefire.

Zelenskyy had announced he was ready to meet Putin in person in Türkiye. However, the Russian President sent a delegation led by his aide, Medinsky.

The negotiation group also included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin.

Zelenskyy described the Russian delegation as “a show.” Ukraine was expected to be represented in the negotiations by Head of the Presidential Administration Andrey Yermak, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Andrey Sibiga, and Presidential Diplomacy Advisor Igor Zhovkva. It was noted that Zelenskyy planned to attend the meeting only if Putin also participated.

Diplomacy

US approves missile sale to Türkiye exceeding $300 million

Published

2 days ago

15/05/2025

Harici.com.tr

The US State Department has approved the sale of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and Sidewinder missiles to Türkiye, totaling over $300 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), part of the Pentagon, submitted two separate notifications regarding this approval to Congress.

According to a written statement from DSCA, the first approved package includes 53 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), valued at approximately $225 million, along with 6 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections for these missiles.

The second package approved by the department covers the sale of 60 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles, related logistics and program support elements, and 11 AIM-9X Block II Tactical guidance sections, totaling $79.1 million.

It was stated that the air-to-air missiles approved by the US administration could be used in various aerial missions, primarily by Türkiye’s F-16 fighter jets.

There is a 15-day objection period for the weapon sale approvals submitted to Congress.

If no objection is raised by members of Congress during this period, the weapon sale will officially take place.

Diplomacy

NATO plans largest defense spending increase since Cold War

Published

2 days ago

15/05/2025

Harici.com.tr

NATO countries have begun working on an agreement for the largest spending increase since the Cold War, with the goal of raising their defense expenditures to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2032.

According to a Bloomberg report based on diplomats familiar with the matter, this proposal was first brought to the agenda by US President Donald Trump.

While alliance members aim to make progress on this issue before the summit in The Hague in June, the topic will be discussed at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Antalya, Türkiye, on May 14-15.

Currently, none of the 32 member countries, including the US, have reached the 5% target. In fact, eight countries have not even met the current recommended spending level of 2%.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called earlier this month for allies to agree to increase their defense spending to 3.5% of their GDP within the next seven years and to allocate an additional 1.5% for military-related needs.

Rutte stated that the aim of The Hague summit, which will be the first summit after Trump’s potential return to the White House, will be to balance spending within NATO.

According to 2024 data, the US accounts for 64% of the alliance’s total defense spending, while Europe and Canada’s share remained at 36%.

Ministers meeting in Antalya will discuss which expenditures will be included in the 1.5% bracket.

According to diplomats, this category could include items such as military mobility, dual-use goods, and cybersecurity.

However, it was emphasized that the talks are still in their initial stages. It remains uncertain whether this 1.5% portion will cover existing expenditures or require new commitments.

A senior Turkish official stated that even aid to Ukraine could be included in this category.

The main target of 3.5% is based on NATO’s new and ambitious defense plans. It has been learned that the alliance has already distributed documents to member governments containing detailed and top-secret lists of weapons and other capabilities.

These lists will be discussed by defense ministers in Brussels and confirmed at the summit in The Hague in June.

Rutte’s proposal also includes regular and strict monitoring of the steps taken to achieve the new targets.

A senior European diplomat said that achieving such a sharp increase in defense spending within the foreseen period would be a “major challenge.”

The same diplomat added that many members see these efforts as necessary to “send a clear message” to Russia.

Currently, the country closest to the proposed new spending target is Poland. Poland, which allocates 4.1% of its GDP to defense, plans to increase this ratio to 4.7% in 2025.

Poland is followed by the US with 3.7% and Estonia with 3.4%. Some alliance members, such as Italy and Spain, have recently announced that they have reached the 2% of GDP level.

According to sources, the remaining countries are expected to reach the same level by The Hague summit.

In addition to this spending issue, The Hague summit will also address topics such as increasing industrial production and reforming NATO’s internal governance to improve its overall efficiency.