Pakistan tweet sparks hopes of ‘recognition’ for the TRNC
A TWEET by Pakistan’s embassy in Ankara sparked speculation this week that Pakistan is planning to recognise the TRNC.
The embassy’s official account @PakinTurkey, which has nearly
30,000 followers, tweeted last Saturday that its consular team would be “undertaking a threeday visit to [the] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, which
took place from Sunday, July 11, to Tuesday, July 13.
As of yesterday the tweet has received more than 1,600 likes and over 500 retweets, far more than any of the account’s other recent tweets.
A follow-up tweet with contact details for more information about the visit was addressed to “Pakistan community members in the TRNC”.
Pakistan is an ally of Turkey, while many people from the country work, live or study in North Cyprus. By referring to the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” rather than terms such as “northern Cyprus” or “the north of Cyprus” some saw the tweets as an indication that Islamabad is preparing to officially recognise the TRNC.
Hasan Ünal, a professor of political science and international relations at Turkey’s Maltepe University, said the Pakistan embassy’s tweets “may be heralding what is to be expected of [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan’s visit to [the] TRNC on 20 July”.
He added it was the “beginning of multipolarity whose cornucopia might pour out a bonanza of goodies for” Turkey.
The Pakistan embassy’s use of the words “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” came after President Ersin Tatar and Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu met with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi last month on the sidelines of an international conference in Antalya, Turkey.
On Tuesday there was further evidence of the warm relations between the two countries when Mr Tatar received a delegation from the Ankara Pakistan embassy at the Presidency building in Lefkoşa. The Pakistani officials were happy to pose for photos in front of the TRNC flag, something which diplomats and ministers from countries other than Turkey generally avoid doing.
President Tatar expressed his “happiness” at the Pakistani diplomats’ visit, adding that “thousands of Pakistani nationals” live in North Cyprus, who he described as “reliable and hardworking”.
Mr Tatar said he wanted to further relations with Pakistan, while adding that air travel between Pakistan and the TRNC via Turkey would “return to normal” once the “pandemic conditions have ended”.
The TRNC Foreign Ministry appeared to play down the significance of the visit, however. It said in a written statement that the “sole purpose of the current visit by the Pakistan Embassy officials to our country is to provide consular services, as was the case before”.
The statement also said: “Our country and Pakistan enjoy close relations based on historical and cultural ties. Encouraged by the exemplary relationship between the two countries, a remarkable number of Pakistani nationals travel to our country to study and work.
“The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara regularly provides consular services to its citizens who are peacefully living in our country.
“In order to provide such services to their citizens, the consular officers of the Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara travel to our country on a regular basis in consultation with our Ministry.”