Varosha-for-Ercan flights swap risks “Taiwanization” of Northern Cyprus

A possible swap of the closed area of Varosha for opening Ercan Airport to international flights and direct trade could for a long time freeze the Cyprus settlement process and lead to the “Taiwanization” of the northern part of the island. This view was expressed by Ozdil Nami, who previously served as political representative of the Turkish Cypriot community and as a former negotiator. In his assessment, implementing such a scenario within the current UN-led consultations will deprive the sides of any incentive to reach a comprehensive agreement, since one of the key territorial issues would be resolved outside the broader negotiations, leading to the long-term entrenchment of the status quo and the region’s isolation.

The exchange idea is being discussed against the backdrop of the mission of UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Maria Angela Holguin. Earlier, in 2022, similar initiatives to hand over Varosha and the airport to UN administration were voiced by the then leadership of the Greek Cypriot community, but they were rejected by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. Ozdil Nami believes the current deadlock is caused by a methodological gap — the absence of a clear negotiation structure, which he cited the 2004 Annan Plan as an example of. In the politician’s view, a hypothetical partial exchange without changing the overall political status of the territories would create a precedent similar to Taiwan’s situation, which has economic ties but extremely limited international recognition.

At present, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, proclaimed in 1983, is officially recognized only by Ankara, while the international community and UN Security Council resolutions (including Resolution No. 541) regard the northern part of the island as territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Despite separate historical signals of possible support from Bangladesh, Gambia or Azerbaijan, there has been no official diplomatic recognition from these states, and the region remains deeply economically and politically dependent on Turkey. According to Nami, attempts to apply intermediate exchange formulas would only push further back the prospect of full reunification of the island.