Erdogan hosts Erhurman in Ankara, says Turkish Cypriot rights must be protected in any Cyprus solution

Ankara, Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman at Bestepe, the Turkish presidential palace, on Friday. Erdogan underlined that the rights of Turkish Cypriots must be central to any settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Content of the talks

Turkey’s presidential communications directorate said the two men discussed relations between Turkey and the TRNC, as well as regional matters. Erdogan also expressed satisfaction that Turkish Cypriots took part in the Organisation of Turkic States summit, held in Ankara on Friday.

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The directorate said Erdogan told Erhurman that no process failing to safeguard the rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots could lead to a lasting solution on the island. It added that Erdogan said Turkey would always remain at the side of the TRNC. Erhurman made no statement after the meeting.

Earlier remarks at the United Nations

The meeting marks Erdogan’s first public intervention on the Cyprus problem since last month’s UN General Assembly. In his address there, he urged the international community to recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to establish political, diplomatic and economic relations with it. He also said the isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots, which he described as inhumane, had to end at last.

Response from Christodoulides

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides used his own speech to answer Erdogan, accusing him of “hypocrisy of the highest form”. He noted that Erdogan had referred to international law, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, illegal occupation and the plight of refugees. In Cyprus, Christodoulides said, Turkey acts in exactly the opposite way.

Christodoulides said Erdogan had cited the UN charter at length, but argued that “politicians are judged not by their words, but their deeds.” He said that anyone wishing to cite the charter must first apply it. According to Christodoulides, the UN Security Council has set the framework for resolving the Cyprus problem, and a federation that is bizonal and bicommunal, with political equality, remains the only basis for a comprehensive settlement.