Erdogan: Federal Solution ‘Not Possible’ for Cyprus
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday reiterated support for a two-state solution on Cyprus, saying that ignoring the realities on the Eastern Mediterranean island would lead “nowhere.”
Erdogan, whose visit marks the 50th anniversary of Türkiye’s Cyprus Peace Operation, expressed Ankara’s readiness to negotiate, discuss, and ultimately achieve a lasting peace and solution on the Island. He said the Greek Cypriot side had a “spoiled mentality,” seeing itself as the sole ruler of the island.
EOKA was an extremist Greek Cypriot nationalist terrorist group that targeted not only British soldiers and civil servants but also Turkish and Greek Cypriots who opposed its extreme ideology and its goal of union with Greece.
Erdogan further stated that the Greek Cypriot side “clearly” showed it had “no intention” of sharing political power or natural resources with the island’s Turkish Cypriots.
While praising Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar’s “valuable” vision for a two-state solution, articulated in April 2023 during a meeting in Geneva, Erdogan urged the TRNC to sit at the negotiation table with the Greek Cypriot side as equals in all respects.
To reach a solution to the Cyprus issue, he repeated his call for recognition of Turkish Cypriots’ legitimate rights.
“To date, the Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye have been the sincere parties striving for a solution, making sacrifices, taking risks, and showing their commitment,” the Turkish leader added.
Stating that Northern Cyprus is the “apple of Türkiye’s eye,” Erdogan said Ankara and Lefkosa have been united “with one heart, one wrist” for 50 years.
Erdogan said he hopes to see the day when leaders of guarantor countries can visit both sides of the island together, adding that he personally conveyed this desire to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a recent NATO summit in Washington.
