ERDOGAN DEMANDS RECOGNITION OF ‘TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS’ FROM AZERBAIJAN?

Azg/arm
21 July 05

Daily Azg informed in an article titled “Greece and Cyprus Will
Organize Flights to Karabakh” yesterday about the visit of 7
Azerbaijani deputies to the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.
Turkish press covering the event wrote that the Azeri delegation will
take part in the 31st “peace and independence” celebration and on
July 31 the first Azeri plane with 60 Azeri businessmen aboard will
land in the airport of Nicosia under Turkish control.

Turkish prime minister rushed to dub this visit a de facto recognition
of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. Milliyet newspaper
wrote on July 19 that 30 other parliamentary delegations (English,
French, Russian, German, Italian, Danish, Israeli, Georgia, Lebanese,
Egyptian, Iranian etc.) will arrive in Cyprus to take part in
“peace and independence” celebration. The paper points out that
last year’s celebrations in Northern Cyprus hosted 19 parliamentary
delegations. Thus, if delegations mean de facto recognition of the
“Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, then it should have happened
before the arrival of the Azeri delegation. This means that PM Erdogan
speaking of “de facto recognition” reminded the Azeri delegation of
his demand to Azerbaijan during his Baku visit in June 29-30.

But what does he is going to offer in exchange for that? Radikal paper
answers this question in July 19 issue citing the Azeri delegation,
particularly lawmaker Hadi Rajaplu, visiting the Turkish sector
of Cyprus.

According to Radikal, the Azeri delegation sent the signal, “We
supported the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ now let Turkey
refrain from opening border with Armenia”.

Rajaplu noted that Erdogan assured president Aliyev in Baku saying
“recognize the ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ as we are
not going to open the border as long as the Karabakh issue is not
settled”. He emphasized in the meantime the pressure of Athens and
Cyprus government threatening to help Nagorno Karabakh.

These statements show that Azerbaijan is not going to recognize the
“Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. Moreover, it cannot do that
alone. In 1983, Bangladesh took a decision to recognize the “Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus” which was annulled under US pressure
within 24 hours. Once Azerbaijan recognizes Northern Cyprus, the
European Union will apparently play the role of the US in curbing
Azerbaijan.

Turkish prime minister being well aware of this, his demand of
recognition aims at limiting Azerbaijan’s means in influencing
Armenian-Turkish relations. By Hakob Chakrian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress