Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated that Ankara considers the establishment of two separate states on Cyprus as “the most realistic solution.”
On Thursday, November 13, Erdogan used a joint press conference in Ankara with newly elected Turkish-Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman to restate Turkey’s long-held position.
Congratulating Erhurman on his October 19 victory, Erdogan marked the 42nd anniversary of the declaration of the self-styled “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” recognised only by Turkey.
He said Ankara and the Turkish-Cypriot leadership would continue “in full coordination” to pursue a “fair, sustainable, and realistic solution in line with the realities of the island.”
Erdogan blamed the “ongoing deadlock” on what he called the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to accept “the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots,” accusing Nicosia of attempting to “return the Turkish Cypriots to a minority status” under the “partnership structure of 1963.”
He also criticised the UN Security Council and the EU, particularly the bloc’s decision to admit Cyprus despite the failure of the 2004 Annan Plan.
He added that since UN-sponsored reunification talks collapsed in 2017 “when the Greek Cypriots walked away,” Turkey has been clear it will not enter negotiations “for show,” maintaining its stance “in complete agreement” with the Turkish-Cypriot side.
The 2017 talks fell apart over disputes on security guarantees, Turkish troop withdrawals and power-sharing, prompting Ankara to increasingly push for a two-state settlement.
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