“We will determinedly continue our efforts for a fair and lasting solution in Cyprus, our national cause”
Holding a joint press conference with TRNC President Erhürman, President Erdoğan said: “In close coordination with Mr. Erhürman, we will determinedly continue our efforts aimed at reaching a fair and lasting solution that is consistent with the island’s realities in Cyprus, our national cause. The Greek Cypriot side’s rejection of Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality and equal international status lies behind the lack of solution in the Cyprus issue so far.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Tufan Erhürman of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) held a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex.
“WE HAVE ALWAYS DISPLAYED A CLEAR STANCE ON THE CYPRUS ISSUE”
Wishing success to TRNC President Erhürman in his new post, President Erdoğan drew attention to the 42nd foundation of the TRNC that will be marked after two days, and said: “In close coordination with Mr. Erhürman, we will determinedly continue our efforts aimed at reaching a fair and lasting solution that is consistent with the island’s realities in Cyprus, our national cause. We had a very productive meeting with Mr. Erhürman and his esteemed delegation. We discussed the steps that can potentially be taken in the future within the framework of the current trajectory of the Cyprus issue. We have always displayed a clear stance on the Cyprus issue. The Greek Cypriot side’s rejection of Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality and equal international status lies behind the lack of solution in the Cyprus issue so far. The Greek Cypriot side does not want to share the political power or economic prosperity with the Turks on the island, nor do they favor this. The Greek Cypriot side sees the solution for Cyprus in reducing Turkish Cypriots to the minority position in a partnership state which it seized by force of arms in 1963 and has no validity today. We should not forget that the mistakes made by the United Nations Security Council at the beginning of the Cyprus issue and the European Union, which approved the Greek Cypriot administration’s membership despite the fact that it rejected the Annan Plan, have a role in this.”
“WE WILL MAINTAIN OUR CONSTRUCTIVE AND JUST APPROACH”
Describing TRNC President Erhürman’s recent messages, in which he stressed that there will be no concessions from the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriots, to the Greek Cypriot side as accurate, President Erdoğan went on to say: “We clearly showed that we would not continue to the negotiations, which had been carried out since 1968 but had yielded no results, for the sake of appearances after the collapse of them in 2017 when the Greek Cypriot side left the table. We preserve our stance in an absolute unity of understanding with the Turkish Cypriot side. We believe that the most realistic solution for the Cyprus issue is the co-existence of the two states in the Island. We will continue our sincere efforts to that end.”
Underscoring that they are faced with a totally different international conjuncture today, President Erdoğan noted: “I wish that we will see the same courage and solution will, which the Turkish Cypriots display, from the other side as well in the upcoming period. In order to make this possible, we, together with the Turkish Cypriot people, will maintain our usual constructive, result-oriented, just and humanitarian approach. We have discussed with Mr. President what can be done to further accelerate our cooperation as well. We have addressed the projects we have launched to increase the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots, facilitate their daily lives and ensure that they are affected by the isolation they have been subjected to for decades at the minimum level.”
“TÜRKİYE WILL NEVER LEAVE ALONE THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE IN THEIR RIGHTFUL CAUSE”
Further stressing that these efforts will continue in the future with the same determination and mindset under the coordination of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, President Erdoğan said that Türkiye, as the homeland and a guarantor country, will never leave alone the Turkish Cypriot people in their rightful cause, and added: “I remember with gratitude all our martyrs, who lost their lives for the homeland, our selfless ghazis and the leaders of the Cyprus cause, the late Dr. Fazıl Küçük and founding President the late Rauf Denktaş. I also thank Mr. President for the message of condolence he issued for our 20 heroic soldiers, who died a martyr’s death in the military cargo plane that crashed in Georgia the previous day. I salute my Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters with affection.”
