Northern Cyprus passport keeps ‘Turkish’ word on it

NICOSIA - Hürriyet

Turkish Cyprus will retain the name “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (KKTC) while abbreviating the name of its territory as CTR (Cyprus Turkish Republic) on its new passports, said an official, quashing rumors that the country planned to drop “Turkish” from its name.

The name Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is seen on the front of and inside of the passports, said government spokesperson Nazım Çavuşoğlu, adding that the country would use the abbreviation CTR instead of the more common KKTC because international aviation regulations only permitted the use of three-letter abbreviations. The new passportswere approved by the Cabinet in Turkish Cyprus on May 30.

The new passports will be in use by the end of this year, Çavuşoğlu said. The passports are being prepared for an e-passport and ID project between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus, which is recognized by Ankara as a state. Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Markulli said that the new passports would not be recognized as valid.