Financial crisis could help unify the island

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the financial crisis affecting Cyprus could help unify the island, which has been divided into Greek and Turkish parts since 1974.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul (right) and former British Prime Minister John Major
Photo: Reuters

“The economic crisis that has hit the island can be seen as a unique opportunity,” said Abdullah Gul, “after all, if unified, Cyprus would have much greater economic potential.” According to the Turkish leader, it is necessary to lift the embargo and restrictions in force on different parts of Cyprus. “This way we can create a new climate for moving forward,” the Turkish President is confident. “I hope our message will be correctly interpreted.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into the Greek Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The latter is recognized only by Türkiye, which sent its troops to the island under the pretext of protecting the local Turkish population from Greek nationalists. Since then, all attempts to unite Cyprus have failed. The European Union, of which Cyprus has been a member since 2004, boycotts the TRNC. Turkey, contrary to calls from the EU, refuses to open its ports to Greek Cypriot ships and goods. This, by the way, remains one of the stumbling blocks in the negotiations on Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

However, over the past ten years, economic cooperation between the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus has grown steadily. As a result, the crisis among the Greek Cypriots also hit their Turkish neighbors.

Alexander Reutov

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