The United States, the European Union and their Arab allies should sanction Turkey until it ends its Cyprus occupation, Michael Rubin, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute said in an article for the National Interest on Wednesday.
“It is time for serious sanctions on Turkey. Rather than slowly ratchet sanctions in a way that allows Ankara to adjust and bypass them, the goal should be to overwhelm Turkey and its already foundering economy,” Rubin said.
Cyprus has been divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974 responding to a Greek Cypriot coup that sought unification with Greece. The Greek Cypriot administration in the south, the Republic of Cyprus, is internationally regarded as the official government of the island, while the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) is recognised only by Turkey.
Numerous U. N. Security Council resolutions have failed to end Turkey’s occupation, which is close to reaching the half-century mark, Rubin said.
“To break the Cyprus impasse now requires a different approach,” he said.
According to Rubin, the U.S. and EU should close Turkish banks operating in north Cyprus, ban Turkish Airlines and other carriers that fly to north of the island from Europe, and should sanction any Turkish or international companies that have business relations in the occupied area.
TRNC officials, as well as companies that have invested in occupied provinces such as the abandoned town of Varosha, should face sanctions and countries should shutter their representative offices in the north, Rubin said.
“The United Nations should consider an outright embargo on arms sales to or from Turkey,” he added.
Ahval