Erhürman: Turkish Cypriots Will Not Be Made Invisible

Erhürman said he would continue international contacts and efforts to ensure that Turkish Cypriots remained visible and connected with the international community.

In a statement on social media, Erhürman said the Barcelona football camp, the festival, attempts to block Presidential Undersecretary Mehmet Dana’s briefing for ambassadors in the buffer zone, legal initiatives concerning property, and European Parliament decisions, particularly those concerning missing persons, were all closed issues from his perspective.

He said the Greek Cypriot leadership continued its efforts to make Turkish Cypriots invisible, adding that he would continue to challenge such initiatives while pursuing efforts to increase the community’s international visibility.

“BOTH SIDES ARE FEEDING INTO EACH OTHER’S POLICIES”

Erhürman argued that there were efforts on both sides of the island to keep Turkish Cypriots away from the negotiating table and cut off their contacts with the international community and international organisations.

“There is a two-sided effort to make Turkish Cypriots, one of the two equal founding partners on this island, walk away from the table and sever all communication with the international community and organisations,” he said.

According to Erhürman, the Greek Cypriot side wanted Turkish Cypriots to leave the negotiating table so that it could continue portraying itself as the “side seeking a solution”, while some in the north wanted Turkish Cypriots to withdraw from the talks on the grounds that “non-solution is the solution”.

“The point where the two meet is making Turkish Cypriots invisible and preventing them from engaging with the world,” Erhürman said.

He added: “Our people know that, as has been the case until now, we will neither surrender to one nor the other.”

“TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE EQUAL TO GREEK CYPRIOTS”

Emphasising that Turkish Cypriots were equal to Greek Cypriots, Erhürman said anyone who refused to accept this principle should understand that there could be no common ground with them.

“Turkish Cypriots are equal to Greek Cypriots,” he said. “Any Greek, Turkish or international organisation, representative or whoever does not accept this will know that it is impossible for our paths to cross on any issue.”

Erhürman also warned against expecting Turkish Cypriots to cut off international contacts in the name of taking a firm position.

“Nobody should expect us once again to eliminate all international contacts of Turkish Cypriots, freeze all processes and say, ‘I will not speak or engage in dialogue or diplomacy with this person or that person,’” he said.

“THE CARDS WILL NOW BE DEALT AGAIN”

Erhürman said efforts were being made from various directions to undermine the morale and motivation of Turkish Cypriots.

“Of course they will act,” he said. “Because their comfort zones have been disrupted. Now the cards will be dealt again.”

He stressed that the Turkish Cypriot community had been engaged in a struggle for existence since 1878 and warned against underestimating its experience, accumulated knowledge and human resources.

“The struggle is not waged by trading words in Sarayönü. The struggle is waged on the ground, and that struggle is being waged on the ground,” Erhürman said.

“MY WORD IS MY WORD”

Erhürman noted that elections would come and go, but the Turkish Cypriot community’s struggle for existence would continue.

Saying he had completed only his first 10 months in office and had more than four years remaining in his term, Erhürman reiterated his commitment to defending the rights, security and equality of Turkish Cypriots.

“My promise to my people is that I will never give up the rights, security and equality of this people on this island,” he said. “I will never turn a blind eye to efforts to make this people invisible or prevent them from engaging with the world. My word is my word.”

“I speak my word while looking my interlocutors in the eye, and I will continue to do so,” Erhürman added. “Those who stand by their words should say them to my face.”