Kazakhstan to Open Embassy in Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus (GKRY)

The opening of the embassy of Kazakhstan, a member of the Organisation of Turkic States (OSTS), in the SCGA and the reception of the ambassador by the President of the SCGA have been met with surprise and sadness in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey. Even anger from some segments can be added to these reactions.

There have been and continue to be reactions to the decision from various quarters. In these reactions, Kazakhstan is openly hostile, relations should be reconsidered, it is a blow to the CIS, Kazakhstan is blamed in general and it is even suggested that Turkish - Kazakh relations should be reconsidered. In addition, there are those who attribute Kazakhstan's decision to the policies implemented by Trump after he took office and the developments in the world.

Along with Kazakhstan, 44 countries, including the Vatican, have embassies in the SCGA. Among these countries, there are countries with very good relations with Turkey and countries with medium and low level relations with Turkey. Anyway, the problem here is not that any country opens an embassy in the SCGA, but that a member country of the CIS like Kazakhstan does. For this reason, instead of overreacting to Kazakhstan, being angry and damaging the relations, the reason why Kazakhstan may have taken such a decision will be analysed here.

In order for a country to open an embassy or similar mission in another country, according to the Vienna Convention, there are procedures that the countries must do mutually. In addition, each country has its own domestic legal procedures in this regard. When issues such as the preparation of the physical facilities of the embassy are added, it is foreseen that the preliminary decision process of Kazakhstan to open an embassy in the SCGA may have been taken at least one year in advance, except for its own internal law. In other words, it is very likely that Kazakhstan took this decision in 2024 and started to implement it in 2025. Already at the beginning of 2025, this issue was reported in some newspapers in the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot side.

Therefore, this decision of Kazakhstan should not be seen as a sudden decision. Considering the international environment at that time, there was an international environment in which the EU and the USA agreed on almost everything, Russia's entire concentration was on Ukraine due to the Ukrainian war, and Russia's relations with the EU and the USA were at the lowest level. Kazakhstan may have taken such a decision in order to further improve its relations with the EU and the USA by taking advantage of this environment and to make new political openings. Because, according to the current situation, it does not seem appropriate for Kazakhstan to suddenly take such a decision at a time when the EU's relations with the USA and Russia are bad and the USA - Russia relations are good.

In fact, what should be questioned here is why Kazakhstan's relations with Turkey and the CIS countries were not sufficient for it and why did it take such a decision? Considering Uzbekistan's view on TRNC's becoming an observer member, it means that Turkey's CIS policies and contributions to the member countries are not yet at the level desired by the members and the member countries may neglect the CIS and Turkey factor in new political expansions.

After the opening of Kazakhstan's embassy in the SCGA, President Erdoğan's meeting with President of Kazakhstan Mr. Tokay Erdogan was reported in the press. President Erdoğan had a telephone conversation with President Tokayev of Kazakhstan (although the content of the conversation was not disclosed, the fact that it took place immediately after the event suggests that the embassy issue was also discussed). The following can be inferred from this. It is understood that Turkey and the TRNC were not informed about this issue even during the 11th CIS summit held last year and the informal summit held in Baku. Because such an issue has never been included in open sources and has never been on the agenda.

What can be done after this?

It is very likely that Kazakhstan will not go back on this decision. Perhaps in the coming years, it may close its Embassy in case the relations between the USA and Russia with the EU deteriorate further.

This political opening of Kazakhstan may become an important gain for the TRNC. If the TRNC is accepted as an observer member, especially Kazakhstan, at the CIS summits or meetings in the coming days, it may further increase the strength of the message and influence that can be given to the Greek Cypriot side for a two-state solution.

The worst course of action that can be taken in this regard is to give divisive, marginalising policies and reactions to Kazakhstan. This should be avoided.

The TRNC generally acts together with Turkey in the CIS. From now on, it should gradually take steps to improve its relations with other member countries in coordination with Turkey, as in its relations with Azerbaijan.

Conclusion;

Turkey should implement policies that will make the CIS more effective in a short time with the member countries and raise it to a level that will meet the demands of the member countries. Policies can be developed to turn this political opening of Kazakhstan in favour of the TRNC. For whatever reason, Kazakhstan should not be marginalised for this reason, and ways of joint work should be sought for the steps that can be taken in this regard. In addition, it should be taken into consideration that this opening of Kazakhstan was made according to the international political environment before, not after Trump, so new policies can be developed according to current developments.

Bibliography

-Embassies in the SCGA. https://www.gov.cy/app/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Diplomatic-Corps-Order-of-Precedence-Resident-Heads-of-Missions.pdf, Accessed 27 February 2025

-Vienna Convention, https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf, Accessed 27 February 2025

- First news on Kazakhstan to open an embassy in SCGA (14 January) , https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/01/13/kazakhstan-to-open-embassy-in-cyprus, Accessed 27 February 2025

- President Erdoğan had a telephone conversation with President Tokayev of Kazakhstan, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/gundem/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-kazakistan-cumhurbaskani-tokayev-ile-telefonda-gorustu/3493955, Access Date: 27 February 2025