It has come to the attention of Marina Yannakoudakis, Conservative MEP for London, that the new Turkish visa system does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, an EU Member State, as an independent state.

The new system leaves no option for a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus to obtain a visa which corresponds to the country that issued their passport, making it impossible for them to obtain a valid visa. This can only be done by ticking a box on the application form which amounts to denying the existence of the Republic of Cyprus.

The new electronic system includes the option ‘Greek Cypriot Administration in Southern Cyprus’ which is a clumsy attempt by the Republic of Turkey to upgrade the pseudo-state of northern Cyprus, while simultaneously attempting to downgrade the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus.

Marina has written to the European Commission asking what they will do to remedy this problem and stating that the Republic of Turkey is the only country not to recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

Marina said: “No citizen from an EU member State should be expected to renounce their national identity in order to visit another neighbouring candidate EU country.”