The official website of the President of Azerbaijan reports that there was a telephone conversation between Ilham Aliyev and “President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” Ersen Tatar, during which the latter expressed his gratitude for the creation of an inter-parliamentary cooperation group with the “CATP” in the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan. In turn, Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that “inter-parliamentary cooperation will contribute to the strengthening of ties between the two peoples”. Of course, the official message does not convey the details of the telephone conversation, but the available information is sufficient to record that Baku has adopted the path of recognizing the “PTSH” and establishing full diplomatic relations with it.
When will it be officially announced? It depends, most likely, on who will recognize the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus and the organization created under that auspices after Turkey. Last year, information was spread in the media that the Russian Embassy in Cyprus “provides consular services to the residents of the northern part of Cyprus.” Moscow did not deny, but clarified that it refers to “several individuals from the northern part of Nicosia”. Russian-Cypriot tension followed, Cyprus declared two Russian diplomats undesirable persons and expelled them.
In August of last year, Turkey provoked tension on the “separation line” of Cyprus, the occupying forces threatened the UN peacekeepers. In this regard, the resolution presented by Great Britain in the UN Security Council was not accepted because Russia used a veto. Then, during a press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov called the northern part of the island “the Turkish Republic”. Not only the Foreign Ministry of Cyprus, but also Greece expressed deep concern about that connection. That sediment remains in Russian-Greek relations to this day.
There is an expert opinion that “Russia” will recognize the CSTO if Turkey recognizes Crimea as a Russian state. Ankara considers Crimea an inseparable part of Ukraine, at least in its public statements. At the same time, Turkey emphasizes that Crimea is a “Tatar autonomy”. This seems to be a reserve position. Ankara makes it clear that on the issue of Crimea “it may revise its position if Russia declares Tatar autonomy on the peninsula”. Will Moscow take such a step? It should not be forgotten that during the reconstruction of the USSR, the Tatars were the first to raise the national question, demanding to grant the 1944 the return of the deportees and their successors to Crimea and the restoration of Tatar autonomy.
Most likely, Ilham Aliyev will not hurry in the matter of legal recognition of the “CATH”. What is possible or desirable is practically done; the north of the island has an air connection with Baku mediated by Istanbul, cultural, educational and tourist connections have been formed. If Russia and Turkey reach an agreement in principle on the mutual recognition of Crimea and Northern Cyprus, then the formal recognition of the “CSTO” by Azerbaijan will turn into an exclusively technical issue. Such a Russian-Turkish arrangement seems less likely. But that’s right now.
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