The Organisation of Turkic States (OTS), which brings together the Turkish-speaking states in Europe and Central Asia, attempts to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity, which consists of the occupied territories of the Cyprus Republic by Turkey. The EU repeatedly reiterated that it recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law under the respective UN Security Council Resolutions. Moreover, the Republic of Cyprus is an EU member.
The fact that Hungary is a member of OTS as it is a member of the EU poses a question about whether Budapest agrees with the Turkic states’ attempts to legitimise the so-called, internationally not recognised “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”) and if so, disagrees with the EU’s precise position.
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is isolated within the EU due to its authoritarian ruling that restricts freedoms and its pro-Moscow and pro-Beijing relations. However, he participates in OTS’ meetings without expressing any reservation concerning “TRNC”‘s elevation to an observer member of the Organisation.
Orbán participated in the OTS informal summit in Shusha on 5-6 July. As Hungary is serving the European Council’s rotating presidency until 31 December 2024, he tried to make his participation an official EU representation, which caused the European Commission to react immediately.
“Hungary is now the EU Member State serving the rotating presidency of the Council until 31 December 2024. That does not entail any external representation of the Union, which is the responsibility of the President of the European Council at the Head of State or Government level and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the Ministerial level,” stated the EU High Representative Josep Borrell, on 6 July.
However, the Council of Heads of State of the OTS, which met on 6 November in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on the theme of “Empowering the Turkic World: Economic Integration, Sustainable Development, Digital Future and Security for all,” invited Ersin Tatar, the President of the “TRNC”, as the Guest of Honour.
Orbán was also present.
In a statement by HR/VP Josep Borrell, “on attempts to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity,” the EU reiterated its position on the issue.
“The European Union rejects the repeated attempts by the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) to legitimise the Turkish Cypriot secessionist entity, the so-called, internationally not recognised, “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”), through granting OTS observer status, including at its summit taking place yesterday in Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic),” Borrell stated.
“These attempts are regrettable and contradict the strong support of several members of the Organisation to the principle of territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter,” HR/VP added.
Borrell reiterated that the EU only “recognises the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law, in accordance with the respective UN Security Council Resolutions”.
