Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today that all future negotiations on the island of Cyprus will be between two countries based on the principle of “sovereign equality“, not between two communities, the Anadolu Agency reported, quoted by BTA.
“Until a solution reflecting the realities of the island is reached, we will not engage or trade with the Greek Cypriot administration“, Erdogan said during his speech at the opening of the newly built buildings of the presidency and parliament of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Ankara, in Nicosia.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974. after the Turkish army invaded in response to a Greek nationalist coup. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was declared in the northern part of the island, which remains recognized only by Ankara. The island remains a key source of tension between Greece and Turkey, although the two countries are NATO allies.
The Republic of Cyprus has been part of the European Union since 2004, but only the Greek Cypriots, who live in the south, enjoy the benefits of membership.
The Turkish president has indicated that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have yet to agree on how a solution would work. Greek Cypriots prefer a federation, while Turkish Cypriots advocate a two-state solution, arguing that the repeated failures of negotiations show the unworkability of the federal model.
“The Turkish Cypriots, who have courageously preserved their language, religion and culture on the island for more than 500 years, deserve to look to the future with hope and confidence“, Erdogan said.
He also stressed that some forces are trying to hinder the progress of Turkish Cypriots and their republic. “We are aware that there are people whose hatred and thirst for revenge are so strong that they would drive the Turks not only from the island but also from Anatolia if they could“, he noted.
The Turkish leader added that those who envy the growth and international visibility of the Turkish Cypriots are actively working against its development. "As you can see, those who envy the TRNC for its growing economy and increasing peace are doing everything they can to hinder progress," Erdogan said.
He concluded by stressing Turkey's solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots and saying that any effort to hinder their development would be met with a firm response from Ankara.