With recommendations to the Turkish side being persistent from the European family regarding Turkey’s alignment with the principles of International Law and the Law of the Sea, the regime of Tayyip Erdogan continues to promote its own propaganda narrative about the occupied territories both through provocative rhetoric and with posters and advertisements in prominent locations such as airports. In a highly misleading advertisement, specifically at Istanbul airport, the occupied territories are displayed on a large screen as a tourist destination and the inscription “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” appears, which if nothing else constitutes a provocation and is not acceptable either by the Greek side or by countries that respect the rules of International Law.
More or less, Turkey presents its own narrative to a multitude of people, in a busy place, at the airport, where thousands of tourists pass through daily. This particular presentation is reported to have been running since last May, and an intervention from European authorities is still awaited to remove the provocative logo as happened with the case of the commercial logo Turkagean which was cancelled by the EU.
In this campaign with the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” being presented as a destination, and with a map even appearing below the logo, identity elements are being falsified.
It should be recalled that a short time ago, the Turkish Minister of Tourism had noted that the commercial brand “Ada Kibris / Island Cyprus” would be changed to “Visit North Cyprus” regarding international markets.
Turkish provocations: Ankara’s narratives for two-state solution and “Northern Cyprus”
It is noted, at the same time, that Erdogan brought back his inflammatory rhetoric when speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, supporting that Turkey’s goal is for the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean to become a “basin of stability and prosperity,” while simultaneously rejecting “unilateral and maximalist positions” which he claimed attempt to exclude Ankara and the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”
The Turkish president gave particular emphasis to the Cyprus issue, repeating the position about the existence of “two separate peoples and two separate states” on the island, confirming Ankara’s line in favor of a two-state solution.
A few days ago, however, the European Parliament had condemned Turkish revisionist narratives, with a damning report that rejected the “Blue Homeland” doctrine and called on Turkey to fully respect International Law and UNCLOS, including the right to delimit EEZ, demanding the withdrawal of the invalid Turkey-Libya agreement, which violates the rights of third countries. It emphasized that a non-aggressive and cooperative stance from Turkey is necessary for regional stability and the resolution of disputes based on international law.
With this text, the European Parliament’s position is reaffirmed that the only solution to the Cyprus problem is a just, comprehensive, sustainable and democratic settlement, within the agreed framework of the United Nations, on the basis of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with a single international legal personality, single sovereignty, single citizenship and political equality, as defined in the relevant Security Council resolutions, in the agreed areas of convergence and within the framework of the UN Secretary-General, as well as in accordance with international law and EU principles and values.
The MEPs have, at the same time, expressed deep concern about the lack of protection of world heritage monuments, such as Hagia Sophia and the Sumela Monastery, as well as acts of vandalism against minority places of worship, demanding immediate implementation of UNESCO decisions.
