Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman criticised President Nikos Christodoulides’ recent comments on the Cyprus problem, calling them inconsistent, unfounded, and unserious. Erhurman’s remarks followed statements made by Christodoulides during Greece’s independence day celebrations.
Criticism of shifting positions
In a social media post, Erhurman said Christodoulides had moved from “let’s pick up where we left off at Crans-Montana” to a “five-point roadmap” and then to a “call for Turkish Cypriots to return to the Republic of Cyprus”.
Erhurman said “fantastical ideas are flying around, beyond the limits of possibility and reason”, ranging “from Nato membership to the issue of the British bases, and from there to Turkey recognising him”.
He said such statements, made one after another, reflected confusion and could only be the result of panic.
Response to historical references
Erhurman also objected to Christodoulides’ claim that he would “reunify the homeland based on the lessons of 1821”, saying it was not worth taking seriously.
He said that if Christodoulides wanted to learn from history, he should look at 2004 or 2017 rather than further back, adding that “going so far back seems to be quite dizzying”.
Erhurman said the Turkish Cypriot side was “here with the wisdom, will, seriousness, and consistency of our people”, and added, referring to Christodoulides, “I wish the same to him”.
Context: 2004 referendum and Crans-Montana talks
Erhurman’s references to 2004 and 2017 related to the referendum on reunification under the Annan plan, which was accepted by Turkish Cypriots and rejected by Greek Cypriots, and to the most recent round of formal negotiations held at Crans-Montana.
Christodoulides’ independence day remarks
Christodoulides said on Wednesday, Greece’s independence day, that “we should come to the present dimension, learn the right lessons, utilise the way in which our Greek brothers fought to gain their freedom”.
He added that it was “precisely relying on the lessons of the fight” that efforts continue “for the liberation and reunification of our homeland”.
Which recent statement by President Nikos Christodoulides do you consider most significant for the Cyprus problem?