In a shocking report, the Russian media Izvestia reported that “Russia is preparing to start air connections with “Northern Cyprus” and to open a consular authority in “Northern Nicosia”, which could happen before the end of year,” they reported to Izvestia.
“The start of flights and the opening of the point does not mean diplomatic recognition – this will be done to serve Russian citizens living in the northern part of Cyprus, who are about 10 thousand, the diplomatic sources clarified. Similarly, Western countries open their consular offices in the northern part of the island, calling them “offices” and without specifying that they are in the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)”.
In the Turkish parliament, Izvestia was told that Ankara would only welcome the start of flights to the TRNC, but this step is unlikely to change Turkey’s position on Crimea itself.
On September 20, the Milliyet newspaper, citing sources, reported that two Russian airlines plan to start flights to the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).”
Highly informed sources of Izvestia confirmed the Turkish media reports, but clarified that this is an initiative of a private Russian airline and not the national carrier of the Russian Federation.
This airline plans to organize direct flights, there was really such a request. But this will not mean diplomatic recognition of the “TRNC” by Russia, from this point of view, Moscow’s position remains the same, – emphasized one of the interlocutors.
A second Izvestia source, also familiar with the situation, added: The Russian Federation is also exploring the possibility of opening a consular authority in the northern part of the island.
— There is a study on the initiative to open a consular office in northern Nicosia. More than 10,000 Russian citizens live there and consular services are currently not available to them. But the opening of such a point will not mean that diplomatic recognition will follow: the institution will be called “Russian Consular Authority in North Nicosia”, without specifying that it is the TRNC.”
He noted that a similar practice is followed by many Western countries that have opened consular offices in Taiwan.”
