After the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, foreign minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, traveled to Washington and met with members of the Turkish press. Ertuğruloğlu spoke about the Cyprus issue, the TRNC’s foreign policy approach and the relations between the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and the United States.
Ertuğruloğlu said there had been no substantive change in the international agenda concerning the TRNC and that the current status quo continued. He argued that the core of the problem lay in the Greek Cypriots being viewed as a state while the Turks in the TRNC were regarded as a community.
He described UN and EU decisions as obstacles to a solution
Ertuğruloğlu said the UN Security Council decisions adopted in 1964, along with the European Union’s admission of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus as a member in 2004, had played a role in the emergence of the Cyprus problem. He said the issue could not be resolved through this international approach.
Ertuğruloğlu said he did not consider negotiations with the Greek Cypriots meaningful under the current circumstances and described the process as a long-term struggle. He said Türkiye’s support was of great importance to the TRNC and that Türkiye’s determined stance enabled the TRNC to hold direct talks with many international actors.
Emphasis on two sovereign, equal states for the TRNC
Ertuğruloğlu said the TRNC’s foreign policy approach was based on two sovereign, equal states and equal international status, adding that they did not view establishing a new partnership with the Greek Cypriots as an option. He described the current situation as a “de facto solution.”
Arguing that there had been no change in the positions of international actors, Ertuğruloğlu said they would not back down from the current situation and would focus on governing the TRNC better. He added that the TRNC’s foreign policy steps would continue in full coordination with Türkiye.
Reaction to the Greek Cypriot Administration’s ties with Israel and the US
Ertuğruloğlu said American, British and French soldiers would participate in a parade to be held in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, and also drew attention to the relations the Greek Cypriots had developed with Israel recently.
Ertuğruloğlu said they were concerned by the close ties between the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and Israel, arguing that Israel fed on crises and created instability in the region. He said Türkiye had reacted to Israel following developments in Gaza and had taken a humanitarian stance.
Ertuğruloğlu also criticized the US for selling weapons to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and providing it with military training. He said they were not hostile toward the US or any other country and that they would continue to protect their presence on the island with Türkiye’s support.
