WILL CYPRUS ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH KARABAKH?

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The first thing must be to end the economic isolation in one part of the island, to normalize relations between both parts of Cyprus, creating conditions for full normalization in the interests of all the people living on the island." Vladimir Putin said. This sudden statement of the Russian President approves the forecasts of political scientists who after the failure of last year's referendum on Cyprus unification predicted that the Turk-occupied Northern part of the island would gradually come out of political isolation. The first step was made by Azerbaijan. During the visit of Rejeb Erdoghan to Baku Ilham Aliev expressed readiness to establish direct contacts with Northern Cyprus. At first those contacts were supposed to be economic, but things will of course not be restricted to trade. The very fact of economic relations between Baku and Lefkoshu (the capital of the self-proclaimed republic) is already a political factor.

This time Aliev passed from words to business. The official opening of the "Center for trade and cultural cooperation of Azerbaijan in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" is going to take place in Lefkoshu in September. In autumn it is also planned to hold a week of Azerbaijan in Northern Cyprus. Starting from July 31 Azeri "IMAIR" air company is starting regular direct flights from Baku to Lefkoshu. By the end of July two delegations of Azeri manufacturers, businessmen and bankers will visit Lefkoshu to establish contacts with their local partners. The first group will consist of 50 and the second group of 80 persons. The most significant is the fact that issues connected with the visit of the businessmen are openly agreed by the Ministry of Economic Development of Azerbaijan with the "Representation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Azerbaijan". Azeri leaders treat the head of the "embassy" opened in Baku as a head of an official diplomatic representation.

In Nicosia this fact is regarded as an undisguised support to separatism and open violation of international norms. The internationally acknowledged Republic of Cyprus reacted to that very quickly. In Nicosia they seriously discuss the possibility of opening direct airline communication with Nagorno Karabakh. This intention of Cyprus leadership was approved recently by the leader of Turkish separatists residing to the north of the island Mehmed Ali Talat who calls himself president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The confrontation between Nicosia and Baku and the gradual withdrawal of Northern Cyprus from economic isolation may create a favorable background for Karabakh. It is a precedent when a state formation that is not acknowledged by international community becomes a subject of economic relations. Karabakh is also interesting for serious foreign companies. Many of them already do not conceal their presence in NKR. The attempts of Turk-Cypriotes to achieve break of economic isolation should serve as a stimulus for the flow of new investments in the economy of Karabakh.