Ertuğruloğlu: “Two Sovereign, Equal States Is the Final Point in Foreign Policy”

“The final point we have reached in foreign policy is this: a policy of two sovereign, equal states with equal international status. There is no option of establishing a new partnership with the Greek Cypriots,” Ertuğruloğlu said.

Ertuğruloğlu met with Turkish journalists in Washington after traveling there from New York, where he had been holding contacts as part of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, and discussed current developments.

He said there had been no substantive change in the international approach toward the TRNC and that the status quo remained in place.

Ertuğruloğlu argued that the essence of the Cyprus problem was that Greek Cypriots were treated as having a state status they did not deserve, while Turkish Cypriots in the TRNC were treated as a community rather than as a people with the status he said they deserved.

Ertuğruloğlu Criticizes UN Security Council and EU Policies

Ertuğruloğlu said the factors that created the problem included decisions adopted by the UN Security Council in 1964 and the European Union’s admission of the Republic of Cyprus in 2004.

He argued that resolving the Cyprus problem through this international approach was not possible.

Saying there was no meaningful basis for negotiating with the Greek Cypriot side under the current circumstances, Ertuğruloğlu described the issue as “a long-term struggle.”

“We are very fortunate to have such a powerful country as our motherland, Turkey, behind us,” he said.

Ertuğruloğlu claimed that without Turkey’s determined position regarding the TRNC, there would be no Turkish Cypriots left on the island and Cyprus would have become “another Crete.” He said Turkey’s strength and influence had enabled the TRNC to engage directly with a number of international actors.

“The Current Situation Is a De Facto Solution”

Ertuğruloğlu said:

“The final point we have reached in foreign policy is this: a policy of two sovereign, equal states with equal international status. There is no option of establishing a new partnership with the Greek Cypriots. It is over. We tried being partners, and now we are experiencing what happened to us as a result. The mentality of the Greek Cypriots opposite us has not changed, and there is an international community that encourages this mentality. That is why we say the current situation is a de facto solution: two neighboring sovereign, equal states.”

Emphasizing that the approach of international actors had not changed, Ertuğruloğlu said, “That is why the current situation is a solution. We cannot afford to step back from this. Our responsibility is to govern the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus better and to move forward step by step together with our motherland. There is no other way.”

Ertuğruloğlu said the status quo would be maintained in terms of the TRNC’s foreign policy and stressed that they would continue taking steps in full coordination with Turkey.

Referring to a parade scheduled to be held in the Republic of Cyprus, he said American, British and French troops would also participate, while drawing attention to the recent development of relations between the Greek Cypriot side and Israel.

Ertuğruloğlu Highlights Cyprus-Israel Relations

Ertuğruloğlu also referred to the close relationship between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, expressing concern over the relationship.

“Israel is a state that thrives on creating crises, a state that creates enemies rather than peace and feeds off them,” Ertuğruloğlu said.

He recalled that Turkey had strongly responded to Israel and adopted what he described as a humanitarian stance following the war in Gaza, stressing the importance of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s position.

Ertuğruloğlu said Israel continued to be a country spreading instability in the region.

He also criticized the United States for selling weapons to the Republic of Cyprus and providing military training there, saying, “When we ask our American counterparts here about this, they cannot give us a proper answer.”

Stressing that they were not “enemies” of the United States or any other country, Ertuğruloğlu said they would nevertheless “not surrender” and would continue to protect their presence on the island with Turkey’s support.