Lawmaker Says Northern Cyprus Seeks Russia’s Recognition to Build Dialogue

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a self-proclaimed republic in northeastern Cyprus. Turkey is the only country that recognizes the "state formation".

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia could engage in a dialogue with the Turkish-controlled northern area of Cyprus even if the the self-proclaimed republic is a mere "state formation," a member of the local parliament told Sputnik Turkey radio on Wednesday.

"If Russia merely admits the existence of a state formation in northern Cyprus, it will be able to engage in a dialogue with the North's representatives without recognizing it officially [as a state]," Mehmet Hasguler, a member of the Turkish Cypriot parliament, said.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a self-proclaimed republic in northeastern Cyprus. Cyprus has been divided into Turkish and Greek domains since a 1974 Turkish invasion in response to a Greek coup. The only country to recognize Northern Cyprus is Turkey.

The UN Security Council reaffirms every year that it does not recognize the Turkish Cypriot republic. Russia has stated that it is in agreement with the Security Council in that Northern Cyprus is an integral part of the Eastern Mediterranean island nation.

But, Hasguler argues, Russia's "traditional" stance on the republic could change. He called for an end to the isolation of Northern Cyprus, which he compared to a "plague patient."

The Turkish Cypriot politician added he had little hope that the newly-elected Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will find a way out of the Cypriot impasse.

This comes with the first visit to Cyprus on Monday by Tsipras after his left-wing Syriza party swept the polls last month. During his stay, he voiced discontent, alongside Cyprus, of European Union policies toward Russia.