Friday, May 16, 2025
Volume:
41
Issue:
6
Abstract:
The northern part of Cyprus remains a blind spot in international policing. Controlled by the unrecognised “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”), the occupied territory operates outside the reach of INTERPOL, extradition treaties, and cross-border legal cooperation. This legal vacuum, rooted in an unlawful occupation since 1974, has turned the area into a haven for fugitives and organised crime. Grounded in UN Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550, and the ICJ’s Kosovo Advisory Opinion, this article argues that recognition is not a solution. Upholding the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus while closing the enforcement gap is the only lawful and practical way forward.