"The Last Divided Island in Europe?" The Double Standards Toward Turkish Cypriots

For decades, Greek Cypriot leaders and their allies in the West have clung to a narrative describing Cyprus as "the last divided island in Europe," a phrase that conveniently ignores both historical complexity and global context.

 

This rhetoric positions Cyprus as an anomaly in the global landscape of divided regions and portrays Turkish Cypriots as obstructionists to unity rather than a community striving for justice, equality, and self-determination.  

 

Yet this narrative is both disingenuous and hypocritical. Cyprus is far from the only divided region in the world, nor is it an exceptional case. From Korea to Sudan, and from Ireland to Israel-Palestine, division is a recurring theme in human history. What truly sets Cyprus apart is not its division but the relentless double standards applied by Greek Cypriots and their Western allies to deny Turkish Cypriots the recognition and rights afforded to countless other divided communities worldwide.  

 

This article examines global divisions, the colonial legacies behind them, and how Cyprus fits into this broader pattern. It dismantles the "last divided island" myth and exposes the Greek Cypriot strategy of weaponizing division to subjugate Turkish Cypriots, underscoring the urgent need for fairness and justice.

 

The Myth of Uniqueness: Cyprus in Context

The phrase "the last divided island in Europe" is repeated ad nauseam by Greek Cypriot officials and their supporters in the West. It is designed to elicit sympathy for the Greek Cypriot position while painting Turkish Cypriots as the obstacle to reunification. This narrative, however, crumbles under scrutiny.  

 

Cyprus is far from unique. The world is rife with divided regions, many of which have persisted for decades, if not centuries. The Korean Peninsula, for example, has been split into North and South Korea since 1945, with the two sides locked in a tense stalemate. Despite their stark ideological differences, both Koreas are internationally recognized as sovereign states.  

 

Closer to home, Northern Ireland has been a site of deep divisions since its partition from the Republic of Ireland in 1921. Despite the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, Northern Ireland remains divided along religious and cultural lines. Its governance depends on a delicate balance of power, yet no one denies the legitimacy of the separate Irish and British identities that coexist on the island.  

 

Even within the European Union, divisions exist. Belgium is a de facto divided state, with Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia operating as distinct cultural and political entities. Similarly, Spain faces ongoing tensions with Catalonia, where calls for independence remain strong.  

So why does Cyprus receive such disproportionate attention as a "divided island"? The answer lies in the international community’s complicity in the Greek Cypriot narrative, which deliberately erases the legitimate grievances of Turkish Cypriots. By framing the division as a uniquely Greek tragedy, the Greek Cypriot leadership has weaponized global sympathy while perpetuating Turkish Cypriot isolation.

 

Colonial Legacies and Global Divides

Many of the world's most enduring divisions are rooted in colonialism, and Cyprus is no exception. Like the partition of India, the division of Sudan, or the troubled borders of the Middle East, Cyprus’s modern history was shaped by colonial powers that cared little for the communities they governed.  

During British rule (1878-1960), the colonial administration exacerbated tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots through a divide-and-rule strategy. British policies favored one community at times and the other at others, deepening mistrust. When Cyprus gained independence in 1960, the British left behind a fragile bi-communal framework, which collapsed within three years.  

 

Greek Cypriot leaders dismantled the power-sharing agreement, pursuing enosis (union with Greece) at the expense of Turkish Cypriots, who were subjected to violence and systematic exclusion. This led to the events of 1974, when Türkiye intervened to protect Turkish Cypriots from ethnic cleansing under the Treaty of Guarantee.  

 

The parallels with other colonial legacies are striking. In India, the British withdrawal in 1947 left a deeply divided subcontinent, leading to partition and the creation of Pakistan. In Sudan, British policies that economically favored the Arab-Muslim north over the African-Christian south sowed the seeds for decades of civil war. Yet while the international community supported solutions for these divided nations, Turkish Cypriots have been ostracized.

 

The double standards are glaring. Greek Cypriot leaders refuse to acknowledge their role in the island’s division, yet they are rewarded with international recognition and EU membership. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriots—who were the victims of aggression—are punished with embargoes and isolation.

 

Double Standards and Selective Sympathy

The case of Cyprus exposes the international community’s hypocrisy when dealing with divided regions. Consider the following examples:  

- Korea: Both North and South Korea, divided since 1945, are internationally recognized as sovereign states. Even the isolated and authoritarian North Korea holds a seat at the United Nations. By contrast, the TRNC, a functioning democracy, remains unrecognized and isolated.  

 

- Israel and Palestine: Despite ongoing conflict, Palestinians have received significant international support for their right to self-determination. Turkish Cypriots, who also seek self-determination, face deafening silence from the same advocates of justice.  

 

- Sudan and South Sudan: When South Sudan gained independence in 2011 after decades of civil war, it was embraced by the international community. The TRNC, a peaceful and stable state, has faced nothing but rejection.  

 

- Ireland and Northern Ireland: The United Kingdom has accepted the division of Ireland as a political reality, recognizing Northern Ireland as a separate entity while maintaining peace with the Republic of Ireland. This pragmatism is conspicuously absent when it comes to Cyprus, where the UK supports the Greek Cypriot claim of "one Cyprus" despite the clear historical realities.  

 

The EU, too, is complicit. It champions minority rights in Catalonia and supports Scotland’s calls for self-determination, yet it turns a blind eye to the rights of Turkish Cypriots. The Greek Cypriots’ EU membership has become a tool of diplomatic blackmail, enabling them to block progress on Türkiye’s accession and suppress Turkish Cypriot voices on the global stage.  

 

Weaponizing Division: The Greek Cypriot Strategy

Greek Cypriot leaders have turned division into a political weapon, using it to entrench their dominance and undermine Turkish Cypriot aspirations. A prime example of this is the so-called Green Line, the United Nations-controlled buffer zone that physically separates the two communities.  

 

While ostensibly neutral, the Green Line has been exploited by the Greek Cypriots to enforce economic isolation. The Green Line Regulation, introduced by the EU in 2004, permits limited trade between Turkish Cypriots and the Greek-controlled south. However, Greek Cypriot authorities have weaponized the regulation by imposing arbitrary restrictions, turning what could have been a bridge between communities into yet another barrier.  

 

Turkish Cypriot goods must pass through Greek Cypriot checks, creating delays, rejections, and logistical bottlenecks that cripple economic growth. This weaponization of trade prevents Turkish Cypriots from accessing international markets, forcing them into economic dependence on Türkiye.  

 

The Green Line is more than just a border; it is a symbol of the Greek Cypriot strategy to use division as a means of subjugation. By controlling trade and blocking diplomatic recognition, Greek Cypriots aim to pressure Turkish Cypriots into submission while presenting themselves as the island's sole legitimate authority.  

 

Turkish Cypriots: A Legacy of Resilience

Despite decades of economic embargoes, political isolation, and international neglect, Turkish Cypriots have demonstrated remarkable resilience. In the TRNC, they have built a functioning democracy, maintained peace, and fostered a vibrant cultural identity. These achievements contrast starkly with the international community’s refusal to acknowledge their existence.  

 

Turkish Cypriots are not alone in their struggle. Regions like Somaliland and Bougainville face similar challenges of non-recognition, yet they continue to assert their right to self-determination. What sets Turkish Cypriots apart is the sheer extent of the international community’s complicity in their isolation—a testament to the effectiveness of Greek Cypriot propaganda.  

 

The Way Forward: Breaking the Chains of Isolation

The "last divided island in Europe" narrative must be dismantled. Cyprus is not an anomaly; it is one of many divided regions. What makes Cyprus unique is the international community’s refusal to treat Turkish Cypriots with fairness.  

 

The solution is clear: the world must recognize the TRNC as a legitimate state and hold Greek Cypriots accountable for perpetuating the island’s division. Justice for Turkish Cypriots is not just a regional issue—it is a moral imperative.  

 

TCE Conclusion

The plight of Turkish Cypriots is a stark reminder of the world’s double standards. If the international community truly values justice, it must end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots, challenge the Greek Cypriot narrative, and acknowledge the TRNC. Only then can Cyprus move beyond division and embrace a future of equality, mutual respect, and recognition.

 

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References

1. Historical records of the Korean Peninsula division following World War II and the establishment of North and South Korea.  
2. Accounts of the Irish partition in 1921 and the subsequent Northern Ireland conflict, with analysis of the Good Friday Agreement (1998) and its ongoing implications.  
3. United Nations documentation on the partition plan for Palestine (1947) and its aftermath, including the creation of Israel and the displacement of Palestinians.  
4. Historical analyses of British colonial policies in Cyprus, including their role in exacerbating ethnic tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.  
5. Documentation of the 1960 Cyprus constitution, the breakdown of bi-communal governance, and the events leading to Türkiye’s intervention in 1974 under the Treaty of Guarantee.  
6. Reports on the Green Line Regulation by the European Union and its impact on Turkish Cypriot trade and economic isolation.  
7. Comparative studies on divided regions, including Sudan-South Sudan (2011), Vietnam (1954), and Somaliland’s declaration of independence (1991).  
8. Analysis of the European Union’s policies on minority rights and self-determination, with case studies on Catalonia, Scotland, and Turkish Cypriots.  
9. Historical accounts of India’s partition in 1947 and the creation of Pakistan, highlighting the role of British withdrawal and communal tensions.  
10. Economic and diplomatic assessments of the embargoes and isolation faced by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since its declaration of independence in 1983.  
11. Academic and journalistic explorations of the global double standards in the recognition of divided states and unrecognized regions, including Bougainville and Taiwan.  
12. Documentation of Türkiye’s legal justification for its intervention in Cyprus under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, including international reactions at the time.