Erdogan reiterates Turkish Cypriot status demand in meeting with UK prime minister

New York, United States. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told British Prime Minister Andy Burnham that any solution to the Cyprus problem must guarantee the “equal international status” of Turkish Cypriots, according to Turkey’s presidential communications directorate.

Cyprus talks

The directorate said Erdogan stated that no formula which fails to recognise the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people would yield results.

Erdogan made similar remarks during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, calling on the international community to recognise and establish political, diplomatic and economic relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He also said the isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots must come to an end.

Turkey-UK relations

Erdogan said relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom were strengthening in every field and expressed confidence that cooperation could be advanced through further steps in areas including defence industry and trade.

Regional issues

The two leaders also discussed the Middle East. Erdogan said Israel’s actions showed that it did not desire peace in Gaza or the West Bank, and stressed the importance of pressure from the international community.

He also referred to rising tensions concerning Iran and Ukraine, saying negotiations aimed at ending both wars could be revived if an agreement were reached concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

On Ukraine, Erdogan said a stalemate prevailed and that the targeting of Turkish and foreign commercial vessels in the Black Sea was further complicating the situation.

New York diplomatic meetings

The meeting took place amid increased diplomatic activity on the Cyprus problem in New York. Erdogan met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier in the day, while Burnham also met Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.