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In the framework of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s foreign policy, which carries with it expansionist ambitions towards the eastern Mediterranean countries, Ankara is again trying to extend its influence for economic and strategic gains, and this time to revive a 50-year-old conflict , specifically in the northern part of the island of Cyprus.
The prime minister of the so-called “Republic of Northern Cyprus” (not internationally recognized), Arsin Tatar, announced the reopening of a beach in Varosha, after it had been empty of residents and deserted since Turkish control of part of it in 1974 .
A statement that would fuel the tension between Turkey on the one hand and Cyprus and Greece on the other, especially as announced at a press conference that brought the Tatars together with the Turkish president, who confirmed that Ankara fully supports the decision to reopen.
Erdogan had several statements, in all of which he claimed his absolute support for the Turkish Cypriot people and their support to obtain their right to equality and recognition, as the only way out to solve the Cyprus crisis, he said.
An overview of the division of the Republic of Cyprus
The “Republic of Northern Cyprus” or “Turkish Cyprus” describes itself as a state, while only Ankara recognizes it. It is located in the northern part of the island of Cyprus, and most of its inhabitants are of Turkish origin, and it is completely subject to the Turkish authorities, where the army roams. Turki and its residents also trade in Turkish liras.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces invaded and occupied the northern third of the island, in response to a coup attempt organized by the ruling military group in Greece at the time, to annex the island to she. From that date, Turkey occupied the area and emptied it of its Greek Cypriot residents.
The demand to resolve the Cyprus crisis by uniting the two parties is seen as a key focus in the United Nations efforts that organized the attempted negotiations in 2017, but failed, as the Cypriot government agrees to place the disputed region under the United Nations administration, but Ankara insists on recognizing it.
Turkish control with economic ambitions
The decision to reopen the beach comes after the suspension of the peace talks between Cyprus and Turkey on the exploration of the latter’s natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean, considering that this is an integral part of the “Blue Homeland” plan, that returns to her with enormous economic income. In exchange, Nicosia is considering sending Turkish ships. Exploration is a violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
“The Blue Homeland” … The map of Turkey’s expansionist dream in the Aegean and the Mediterranean
Collapse of the coalition in “Northern Cyprus”
It seems that Erdogan’s ambitions have led to internal disagreements in the ruling authority of “Northern Cyprus”, as the “Foreign Minister” in him, Osrasi, announced his resignation following the decision to reopen Varosha, due to what which he considered Turkish interference in internal affairs.
The decision to resign constitutes a collapse of the ruling coalition in the region, since the “People’s Party” to which Osrasi belongs has withdrawn, highlighting that the Tatars intend to achieve electoral conquests, to mobilize their national base a few days before the elections. presidential elections, scheduled for October 11.
European condemnation amid efforts to return to negotiations
On the other hand, the European Union condemned the decision, which it considered would lead to an increase in tensions in efforts to resume negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem.
European Chancellor Josep Borrell stressed “the urgency of restoring confidence and not causing further divisions”, recalling European efforts to support efforts aimed at resuming negotiations between the two Cypriot parties, under the auspices of the United Nations.
