Erdogan to arrive in Northern Cyprus today
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Northern Cyprus today for a two-day diplomatic visit.
Erdogan’s trip coincides with the July 20 anniversary of the launch of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which established a republic in the northern part of the island that today is only recognized by Turkey. Erdogan has stated that he plans on announcing “good news” during his trip, which will include an address to Northern Cyprus’ legislative assembly.
Expect the Turkish president to reiterate calls for a two-state solution to the decades old Cyprus problem. These calls are likely to be totally rebuffed by the EU, which has repeatedly stated that a two-state solution would be a nonstarter to any negotiations. More likely to be successful, the president is also expected to call on the EU to organize a conference among Greece, Greek Cyprus, and Turkey to settle on-going tensions over hydrocarbon mining in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Some have speculated that Erdogan’s “good news”—due to recent visits to Northern Cyprus by Pakistani government officials—may see the president announce Pakistan’s intention to diplomatically recognize Northern Cyprus. While this is plausible, Erdogan’s announcement is more likely rhetorical, aimed at drawing international media attention to his trip.
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