Ertuğruloğlu: Erhürman Acts In A “Romantic, Utopian World” On Cyprus Issue

Speaking on Ada TV’s “Günaydın Ada” programme hosted by Nupelda Karabuğday, Ertuğruloğlu discussed the Cyprus issue and relations with the European Union.

He stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people are a sovereign people with their own state, adding that any retreat from this position would be unacceptable. Such a step, he argued, would turn Turkish Cypriots into “captives of the Greek Cypriot side.” He described statehood as the most important achievement of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Referring to the Cyprus question, Ertuğruloğlu said older generations are well aware of past experiences, while younger generations are being influenced through the European Union. He criticized policies conducted through scholarships and various funding mechanisms, claiming that “the European Union has done the greatest harm.”

Commenting on the President’s Cyprus policy, Ertuğruloğlu repeated his criticism, saying: “We have a President acting in a romantic, utopian world. He is a good person, but he is approaching the Cyprus issue from the wrong angle. He is causing the Turkish Cypriot people to lose status and time.”

He said the core policy of the Turkish side is to secure recognition of sovereign equality for the state, arguing that political equality only has meaning if sovereign equality exists. He added that political equality has never been in dispute for them.

Ertuğruloğlu also stated that Türkiye has rights over the entire island, as do Greece and the United Kingdom, and said Türkiye provides the guarantee needed by the Turkish Cypriot people.

Responding to a question about the stance of Turkic states on Cyprus and whether they are “turning their backs on their kin for their own interests,” Ertuğruloğlu said: “Unfortunately, yes.”

He also claimed that the Greek Cypriot side uses the European Union as a “weapon” against these countries.

President Erhürman had described his meeting yesterday with UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguín as “sincere, useful and productive.”