Foreign Ministry Reaffirms No Retreat on Sovereign Equality

In a written statement, the ministry said it welcomed the position outlined by the Turkish Foreign Ministry after Guterres' contacts in Cyprus.

The ministry argued that revisiting solution models that have been discussed for decades and repeatedly failed is incompatible with the current realities on the island.

It said Cyprus is home to two separate peoples, two separate democracies and two independent sovereign states, adding that any process that ignores these realities cannot succeed.

The Foreign Ministry reiterated that a just, lasting and sustainable settlement can only be achieved through recognition of the Turkish Cypriot people's inherent rights, sovereign equality and equal international status.

It stressed that no negotiation process or settlement model that falls short of these two fundamental principles would be acceptable.

The statement added that a realistic path forward for Cyprus can only be built on the island's existing political and factual realities, respect for the will of both sides, and an approach that encourages a new culture of cooperation.