Üstel: We Will Never Accept Initiatives That Ignore Turkish Cypriot Rights

In a written statement, Üstel criticised Christodoulides’ announcement of a planned defence agreement with France that would foresee a French military presence in Southern Cyprus, as well as Von der Leyen’s recent comments on the Cyprus issue.

He said these developments were among the clearest signs that both the Greek Cypriot administration and the European Union had moved completely away from rational and realistic policies.

Üstel argued that efforts by the Greek Cypriot administration to create new military balances on the island are wrong and risk undermining Cyprus’ security.

Referring to the planned agreement with France, he said that although it is being presented under the label of “humanitarian purposes,” it is clearly part of Southern Cyprus’ militarisation policy and broader regional strategic calculations.

He claimed that Cyprus is being turned into a playground for international military powers because of what he described as the Greek Cypriot administration’s irrational policies.

Üstel said the island had previously paid a heavy price due to what he called the Greek and Greek Cypriot side’s obsession with “Hellenising” Cyprus and the wrong steps taken in the past, adding that repeating the same mistakes should not be allowed.

He also criticised what he described as recent attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to use European Union membership as a political tool while ignoring the Turkish Cypriot people.

According to Üstel, Ursula von der Leyen’s statements once again demonstrated that the EU has completely lost its neutrality on Cyprus.

He referred to the 2004 Annan Plan referendum, saying the Greek Cypriot side, which voted “no” to the plan, was rewarded with full EU membership, while none of the promises made to the Turkish Cypriot people were fulfilled.

Üstel said the same approach continues today by ignoring the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights to sovereign equality and equal international status.

He argued that this reflects a mindset that denies the existence of two separate peoples and two separate states on the island and refuses to accept realities.

“Real stability in the Eastern Mediterranean is only possible through fair policies that respect the rights of both sides, not by excluding the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.

He added that in every regional initiative, including energy projects, the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriot people must be taken into account.

Üstel said that in full coordination with motherland Turkey, his government would continue to firmly defend the rights, security and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people and the TRNC.

“The Turkish Cypriot people will never bow to impositions or faits accomplis,” he added.