Cyprus claims Turkey wants ‘complete control’ of separatist north

Cyprus has accused Turkey of looking for full management over the separatist north of the island, and can lodge a proper criticism with the United Nations, President Nicos Anastasiades advised state broadcaster CyBC.

Anastasiades, a Greek Cypriot, claimed Turkey’s new monetary help cope with Turkish Cypriots, alongside adjustments to air journey, display Ankara’s need to fully “management” Turkish Cypriots within the north. 

Cyprus is an ethnically divided island, cut up between a minority of Turkish Cypriots within the north and Greek Cypriots within the south. Solely Turkey recognises Turkish Cypriot’s independence.

Within the letter to the UN, Anastasiades stated he would additionally protest Turkey’s transfer to designate Turkish Cypriot’s essential airport as a home flight route, successfully turning it right into a Turkish airport. 

“I’ll proceed with the criticism once more with the United Nations relative to the airport which … in essence is being built-in and regarded a Turkish airport,” Anastasiades stated. “Secondly, (monetary) protocol clearly demonstrates Ankara’s full management of the Turkish Cypriots.”

Turkish officers, nonetheless, have stated the airport designation goals to make flights to and from northern Cyprus cheaper. 

Hardline Turkish Cypriot chief Ersin Tatar dismissed Anastasiades’ remarks as “Greek Cypriot propaganda” on Monday. Tatar additionally claimed that the monetary deal was of “nice significance” to reinvigorate the Turkish Cypriot economic system forward of presidential elections subsequent yr.

Monetary dependency

Though the north has lengthy been depending on Turkish financial help, many Turkish Cypriots are involved over a brand new €240 million ($256 million) bundle of grants and loans from Turkey, which quantity to one-third of the state’s annual income.

United Cyprus Now, a peace group, says the deal compels Turkish Cypriots to introduce measures curbing freedom of speech, making it simpler for Turkish residents to purchase up property on the island and provides extra energy over to spiritual authorities.

“These measures represent a direct risk to the desire, id, tradition, lifestyle and heritage of Turkish Cypriots,” the group stated.

The chief of the leftist opposition Republican Turkish Celebration Tufan Erhurman known as the deal a “protocol for the abandonment of the desire” of Turkish Cypriots to self govern.