April 2025.
During the inaugural European Union – Central Asia Summit held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 3–4 April 2025, the five Central Asian republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – signed a joint declaration[1] reaffirming their commitment to the principles of international law, including respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states within their internationally recognised borders. In particular, paragraph 4 of the Declaration stated that “[i]n the same spirit, we reaffirmed our strong commitment to the relevant UNSC Resolution 541(1983) and 550 (1984).”[2] The UNSC Resolution 541 in relevant provisions contain provisions that “the attempt to create a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is invalid;” “the declaration of the Turkish Cypriot authorities of the purported secession of part of the Republic of Cyprus as legally invalid;” and also the Resolution “calls upon all States not to recognize any Cypriot State other than the Republic of Cyprus.”[3]
While the Republic of Cyprus was not mentioned by name in the EU—Central Asia Summit Declaration, the language and reference to the UN Security Council resolutions indirectly affirm its territorial integrity and legal continuity. From a state succession perspective, this declaration serves as a rejection of claims by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to be recognised as a successor state.
This development is particularly notable given the earlier position taken by some of these same states within the framework of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS). In November 2022, the OTS granted observer status to the TRNC.[4] This move, largely driven by Türkiye, was interpreted by many as a symbolic gesture of political support for Northern Cyprus. However, the granting of observer status does not constitute formal recognition under international law, and it falls short of the threshold required to affect the analysis of state continuity or succession.
The divergence between the 2022 OTS position and the 2025 EU–Central Asia summit declaration reveals a careful diplomatic balancing act by Central Asian states. On the one hand, they have demonstrated political flexibility in multilateral forums like the OTS, where Türkiye is a leading member. On the other hand, they have maintained a legally conservative position in their dealings with the European Union, aligning themselves with the broader international consensus that the Republic of Cyprus remains the sole continuing state, and that no valid secession has occurred in the northern part of Cyprus. This legal conservatism is further reflected in the fact that all five Central Asian republics maintain formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cyprus.[5]
In summary, the Samarkand declaration of April 2025 confirms that the Central Asian republics do not regard the TRNC as a successor state. Rather, they continue to uphold the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, reinforcing its status as the sole legitimate government of the island from the standpoint of international law and the law of state succession.
[1] https://www.newscentralasia.net/2025/04/05/outcomes-of-the-first-central-asia-eu-summit-in-samarkand/
[2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7745-2025-REV-1/en/pdf
[3] https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/58970?ln=en&v=pdf
[4] https://www.turkicstates.org/en/observers
[5] https://www.gov.cy/mfa/en/diplomatic-missions-of-cyprus-abroad/embassies-and-consulates-by-country/