Ertugruloglu: Rotating Presidency Means a Unitary State

Ertugruloglu made the remarks during an appearance on the Sabah Postasi programme broadcast by Kibris Postasi, where he responded to questions from Gokhan Altiner.

Commenting on the Cyprus issue, Ertugruloglu claimed that the recent tripartite meeting failed to generate any new outcome. He criticised President Tufan Erhurman’s description of the talks as “useful,” stating that references to federation and a rotating presidency ultimately indicate a unitary state. He maintained that a settlement cannot be achieved through negotiations as long as the current status of the Greek Cypriot side continues.

“What Exactly Made This a Useful Meeting?”

Ertugruloglu said he did not believe anything new had emerged from the tripartite meeting. Describing Erhurman’s statement that the talks were “not productive but useful” as interesting, he asked what had stood out for the meeting to be characterised as useful. He added that if the benefit lay in the sides understanding each other better, then the meeting would also have had to be productive.

He noted that Erhurman’s long-held view that “meetings are always beneficial” once again came to the fore and said this was a key point of divergence between them. Ertugruloglu stated, “As long as the Greek Cypriots retain the status of the ‘Republic of Cyprus,’ what is there for us to talk about with them?” Recalling Erhurman’s words that talks should be held “to reach agreement, not merely to talk,” he asked what could realistically be agreed upon with the Greek Cypriot side.

“The Problem Is the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ Status”

Ertugruloglu argued that the Cyprus problem cannot be resolved through negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side and said the core issue is their continued status as the “Republic of Cyprus.” He stressed the need to demonstrate this intransigence to the international community, stating:

“With populist and romantic rhetoric that forgets the foundation of this intransigence, and with slogan-like expressions that have no real meaning, we cannot reach anywhere.”

He said Turkish Cypriots were losing time and that Erhurman’s approach was the same as that followed by former presidents Mehmet Ali Talat and Mustafa Akıncı.

“Rotating Presidency Means a Unitary State”

Ertugruloglu said that although Erhurman does not explicitly use the term federation, all of his statements point in that direction. Referring to calls for a rotating presidency, he said this model signifies a unitary state. He added that, from the European Union’s perspective, there is a single sovereignty on the island, making a geographical federation impossible.

“These Issues Do Not Concern the Solution of the Cyprus Problem”

Referring to CTP leader Sila Usar Incirli, Ertugruloglu criticised continued insistence on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality. He said the Greek Cypriot side has no need for such a solution and accused proponents of this model of ignoring political realities. He questioned why meetings were being held on issues such as crossing points, halloumi and youth football matches, saying none of these were related to resolving the Cyprus problem.

“What They Present as Federation Is a Unitary State”

Ertugruloglu said confidence-building measures were being used to suggest a path toward a solution, but insisted that no such path exists. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side seeks what it portrays as a federation but which, under EU law, would amount to a unitary state based on single sovereignty, territorial integrity and a single state structure.

He said claims that Turkish Cypriots would exercise sovereignty in their own territory under such a model were unrealistic and called on political actors to stop making such promises.

Ertugruloglu warned that serious problems lay ahead for the Turkish Cypriot state and called for focus on resolving these internal issues. He stressed that they could not be solved through an agreement with the Greek Cypriot side but only through self-confidence and support from Turkey.

“They Fulfil the Requirements of Statehood, We Do Not”

Stating that he was not pursuing a policy of blaming the Greek Cypriot side, Ertugruloglu said they were acting in line with their own political goals and interests. He added that these policies harmed Turkish Cypriots and that there was therefore a right to complain, concluding: “They fulfil the requirements of being a state; we do not.”