Embargoes and TRNC

This year, we are celebrating the 49th anniversary of the Happy Peace Operation with great pride and pride. By using Turkey's guarantor rights arising from international law 49 years ago, it put an end to the lawlessness that could occur as a result of the military coup on the island. As the late Bülent Ecevit stated, the Turkish military brought peace not only to the Turks but also to the Greek side. After the ceasefire declared on 16 August 1974, the current "de facto" situation has been going on for many years. In other words, the island is de facto divided into two, with the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GASC), which turns a deaf ear to all peace, solutions and proposals, and which is backed by the EU, on the one hand, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which tries to take its place in the international arena despite all obstacles, on the other. However, unfortunately, embargoes prevent the TRNC from making the necessary economic breakthroughs. Because today, economic power is seen among the most important elements of national power.

The Emergence of Embargoes

Following the end of the operation, embargoes were imposed despite the absence of any legal international decision. Even Turkey, which carried out the operation, had its share of these embargoes. As a result of the military embargo imposed by the USA on the pretext of Turkey's intervention in Cyprus and opium planting, ASELSAN was born in 1976, which today ranks 49th among the world giants. 

The embargo and restrictions imposed on the Turkish side in Cyprus increased even more after the establishment of the TRNC on 15 November 1983. Although the embargo and restrictions were applied implicitly until this date, the UN Resolution No. 541, which was passed on the occasion of the establishment of the TRNC, not only increased the embargo but also led to the inclusion of some products that had been exported outside the country until then within the scope of the embargo. 

Today, when we look at the embargoes and restrictions imposed unilaterally on some countries by UN resolutions or the USA, it is clearly stated in the decisions taken what these restrictions are. In other words, which products, goods, services and practices are specified as a list, and even products and services that are generally considered within the scope of "humanitarian needs" are excluded from embargo or restriction. For example, with the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the restrictions imposed on Russia by the US and the EU have been clearly stated and published item by item. There is no such list or document for the TRNC. However, over time, UN Resolution 541 was presented to the international community by the Greek Cypriot side as an "omnibus law" and this resolution was and still is used by international regulatory organisations in areas such as economy, culture, sports, travel and transportation. When you go to the section of the UN website where the resolutions are listed by subject, it is seen that there is no restriction or sanction decision related to Cyprus among the "Sanctions" resolutions.... 

In the UN Charter, embargoes and restrictions are included in Chapters Six and Seven. The decisions on the TRNC were taken on the basis of Chapter Six. Therefore, the issues mentioned here are advisory. However, the decisions taken according to Chapter Seven are binding, meaning that member states have to comply. Sanctions can also be imposed on UN members who do not comply. Turkey did not comply with these decisions taken on the basis of Chapter Six of the UN, recognised the TRNC and did not encounter any negative situation in this regard.

Embargo and Restrictions on TRNC 

Economic Area

The most economically important embargo and restriction is that products produced or grown in the TRNC cannot be exported to any country other than Turkey. Products sold to Turkey cannot be exported to third countries due to international trade regulations. Especially since there is a similarity in the agricultural products grown in Turkey and the TRNC, the export of these products naturally remains at a low level.  

After the Annan Plan referendum, the Green Line Regulation was put into effect under the mediation of the EU. Accordingly, products and goods produced in the TRNC can reach the Greek Cypriot side and from there to the world through the Green Line Regulation. Of course, this regulation can be seen as an opportunity for the export of products produced in the TRNC one way or another. However, it is not used effectively by TRNC entrepreneurs due to bureaucratic obstacles and the fact that it prevents the chance of competition. In fact, the Green Line Regulation can also be seen as a document stating what the restrictions that are not specified in any UN region are and what their scope should be. Because with this regulation, it is also stated how the passage of people between the two sides should be. In addition, since the regulation also allows the export of some products produced in Turkey (dried nuts, etc.), it actually creates the impression that it is in line with the wishes of the Greek Cypriot side.

On 21 May 1992, SP Anastasiou (Pissouri) Limited and 12 other Greek Cypriot citrus producers and exporters brought a case before the UK High Court against the UK Minisry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Minisry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) for its actions involving the authorisation of imports of agricultural products from Northern Cyprus without the documentation of the official authorities required by Community law. As a result of the court's decision in this direction, citrus production, one of the most important agricultural products of the TRNC, suffered a major blow. In order to draw attention to this situation and the embargoes imposed on the TRNC, the author of these lines has implemented and completed an international relations and economic awareness project called "No to Embargoes - Orange Juice" with the students of Girne American University in cooperation with the public and private sectors. Within the scope of the project; orange, whose market share has shrunk considerably due to embargoes, was taken as an example. Within the scope of the project, the oranges collected by GAU students were squeezed into orange juice and boxed, and the boxes were labelled as "The orange of the Republic of Cyprus, which cannot find a market due to embargoes, was collected by the students of Girne American University and delivered to you as orange juice instead of being left to rot on the tree. Bon appetite" was attached to the boxes. Later on, these boxes were shared with the TRNC authorities and the public in the island in the presence of the press and an attempt was made to raise awareness. 

Travel and Transport

Although TRNC citizens are currently able to travel with their TRNC passports, they generally have problems in this regard. For this reason, some of the TRNC citizens who are in a favourable situation try to overcome this negativity by using the passport of the Republic of Turkey and some of the Greek side. 

Another important issue is the issue of direct flights. Currently, there are only direct flights from Turkey, so the planes coming from other destinations come to Ercan airport by stopping at Turkish airports. This is an issue that affects TRNC tourism as it increases the travelling time and cost. The high ticket prices affected by the lack of direct flights is an important issue. Currently, ticket prices between Turkey and TRNC are much higher than the world average. Unless measures are taken in the near future, it is foreseen that this issue may negatively affect the TRNC, which is an island of tourism and education.

Culture 

It is one of the areas where the TRNC is least affected by restrictions. Since the scope of art is wider than other fields, it is not affected by the restrictions imposed by the Greek Cypriot side.  International TRNC artists such as Rüya Taner can be considered to have contributed to this. The Greek Cypriot side can only prevent the concerts of popular world stars in the TRNC. It is thought that the artists comply with this decision because they earn more in the south. In other words, it is foreseen that such incidents can be overcome with small contributions from TRNC businessmen or large tourism enterprises to the relevant artist. 

Sport

There is no international law document or document related to the TRNC's participation in international organisations. In fact, TRNC universities can participate in EUSA (European University Sports Association) organisations, whose partners include the EU Commission and the Council of Europe. The TRNC and Turkish University Sports Federations applied to EUSA in 2018 and had this decision taken despite the opposition of the Greek Cypriot side. However, despite this, it is seen that there are political obstacles in front of participating in the organisations of International Sports Federations with the name of TRNC.

In fact, one of the most important arguments for the TRNC to take part in international organisations is Russia's participation in the 2022 Beijing Summer Olympics under the name of ROC. After it was discovered that Russian athletes were doping with the help of the state, the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) banned Russia from using "its own name, flag and anthem in any world championship organisation for two years" in accordance with its decision in 2021. Following this decision, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) jointly decided that Russia would participate in the Olympics as the ROC (Russia Olympic Committee). There is no country and flag in the world under the name of ROC, and there is no UN member country under this name. So the following argument can be drawn from here. In order to participate in the Olympics or any other international sports organisation, there is no requirement of recognition by a UN member or by all members of the UN. Participation in sports organisations may well be flexible in certain circumstances.

I would like to make a small quotation from my forthcoming book on the subject of sport.

In Political Psychology, there are two concepts called "Action Dispensability" and "Actor Dispensability". With these two concepts, it is assumed and accepted that some events and persons in history do not exist or have changed, and evaluations are made on how today's events will be shaped. In other words, would this event have occurred if that event had not happened or if this person had been present instead of that person? What would have been the outcome? Therefore, when we apply these concepts to the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot People by the international community with the efforts of the GCASC, perhaps in February 2023, the TRNC sports team would find this tournament unimportant and would not go to Adıyaman, where the earthquake occurred. In other words, if there was no embargo on the TRNC in any way in terms of sports, perhaps such an event would not have happened. For this reason, the international community should try to take the initiative as soon as possible to lift the embargoes imposed on the TRNC and its people. Because these embargoes may have been imposed with political motives, but their effects are humanitarian, and sometimes, even though they are not directly related, they can prepare the ground for situations such as the abhorrent incident in Adıyaman. 

Conclusion

Looking at the embargoes and restrictions imposed on the TRNC, the impression has been created that these are mostly originating from the SCGA and the EU and that Resolution 541 adopted by the UN over the years includes these issues.

The world is changing rapidly. Especially in the multipolar world formed after the pandemic, it is obvious that these sanctions and practices taken by citing UN resolutions taken under the influence of cold war dynamics are outdated and against human rights. This situation can be raised especially by the officials and diplomats of the Republic of Turkey. 

It is foreseen that it is important for the countries in the Organisation of Turkic States, together with the UK, which has left the EU and has both a territory in Cyprus and is a guarantor country, to make applications for the lifting of embargoes and restrictions.

In the memory of this important day, I would like to express our respect, mercy and gratitude to the late Bülent Ecevit, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey at the time, Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan, Founding Leader Dr. Fazıl Küçük, First TRNC President Rauf Raif Denktaş and all our martyrs.