Baykallı: The Status Quo Is Not a Solution, It Is Collapse

Speaking to Kıbrıs Postası TV, Baykallı said conflicting messages from different political actors are weakening the Turkish Cypriot leadership's position in the Cyprus process. He argued that a federal settlement remains the only realistic framework for safeguarding the Turkish Cypriot community's rights internationally.

Baykallı said that although years have passed since the Crans-Montana talks, the same issues continue to dominate discussions, describing the 2017 negotiations as a major missed opportunity for a settlement.

He said the political will for a solution was stronger than ever during the Crans-Montana process and that significant progress had been achieved even on difficult issues such as security and guarantees before the talks ultimately collapsed, leaving Turkish Cypriots deeply disappointed.

'We Must Be Bold Optimists'

Baykallı said the lessons of past negotiations should guide future efforts, describing the contacts being conducted by U.N. Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín, as part of that search for a way forward.

He rejected suggestions that Holguín is carrying a ready-made plan, saying she is instead exploring creative ways to advance the process.

"I am not cautiously optimistic—I am boldly optimistic, because every passing year without a solution works against the Turkish Cypriot community," he said.

'Conflicting Messages Weaken the President's Hand'

Baykallı argued that contradictory statements by different officials undermine the President's position, noting that the international community recognizes the Turkish Cypriot leader as its interlocutor on the Cyprus issue.

He said remarks by some members of the government create confusion internationally and weaken the President's standing in discussions with foreign counterparts.

Reaffirming TDP's long-standing support for a federal settlement, Baykallı said it remains the only way for Turkish Cypriots to regain the rights they enjoy under international law.

"We cannot give up the rights stemming from the 1960 agreements," he said, adding that a federal model based on political equality would allow the two communities to make joint decisions while also providing an important security framework.

'The Property Issue Cannot Be Shifted Onto Individuals'

Referring to a recent extradition case in France, Baykallı said developments demonstrate the growing legal risks surrounding the property issue.

He argued that people who built their lives under the de facto system established after 1974 should not be treated as criminals and said even those opposed to a settlement must acknowledge that the current status quo has reached its limits.

Baykallı described the Immovable Property Commission as a temporary mechanism rather than an alternative to a comprehensive settlement.

He added that the Cyprus issue extends beyond the island itself, saying it is closely linked to energy developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey-EU relations, NATO's security architecture and relations between Turkey and Greece.

"A settlement in Cyprus is vital not only for Cypriots but also for regional stability," Baykallı said. "As long as we exist, we will continue to argue that a solution is the right path for both the people of Cyprus and the wider region."