The potential opening of Turkish ports and airports could be considered a pragmatic attempt at improving relations between both countries and benefit Cypriot trade, economy and security, Diko MP Christos Senekis said on Wednesday.

Speaking at an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) assembley in Istanbul, Senekis said a relevant step would bring Turkey closer to its “obligations towards the EU”.

He added that trade contributed significantly to the creation of stable conditions and built trust between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, as well as small and medium-sized businesses.

As of now, trade with the north is regulated by the Green Line Regulation, permitting only specific goods to be traded between both parts of the island.

He then moved on to describe the broader perspective, emphasising that, due to its geographical location, Cyprus was uniquely positioned to serve as a hub connecting the Middle East and Africa, particularly with regard to energy trade.

However, to fully benefit from the region’s existing renewable sources and liquefied natural gas, certain conditions needed to be met in the political context.

These, he said, included respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and freedom of navigation, as well as regional partnership.

While geopolitical tensions could not be eliminated by interdependence, Senekis said it could encourage stability in the region by making aggression more costly.

The MP stressed that “protectionism cannot be the answer”, and instead advocated for multilateral, transparent and mutually beneficial partnerships to foster sustainable development.

He emphasised the importance of international trade in a globalised economic environment, provided it is based on clear regulations, as this could promote development, prosperity and peace in the wider region.