Ankara and Tashkent argue over the role of Northern Cyprus in the Turkic organization
The unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has received the status of an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States (OTH). This was announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on his Twitter page. After the summit, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry denied this information.
“The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was accepted as an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States. We are always and everywhere near the TRNC,” Çavuşoğlu wrote.
At the ninth summit of the Organization of Turkic States, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also said that the TRNC had been accepted into the OTG. “Our Cypriot brothers, who are an integral part of the Turkic world, are not alone,” he said. The Turkish president thanked the organization for its solidarity. Erdogan was quoted by Anadolu Agency.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, who was also at the summit, denied this information, according to a correspondent of the Fergana news agency.
“No separate decision on North Cyprus was signed at the summit. Uzbekistan is strictly guided by international law, especially on issues of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Recognition of North Cyprus as an independent state is out of the question,” Norov said at a briefing after the meeting.
In 1974, after the government crisis and worsening relations between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, there was a military coup in Cyprus. Turkish troops entered Cyprus under the pretext of restoring constitutional authority, after which the island was divided into two parts. The TRNC was formed on the island, occupying about a third of northern Cyprus. It was recognized only by Ankara. The Greek authorities consider the territory of the TRNC to be occupied.
The Organization of Turkic States was established in 2009. It includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan admitted as observers. The aim of the OTG is all-round cooperation between the Turkic-speaking countries and a joint contribution to peace and stability in the region.
