Erhurman writes to UN, EU and Barcelona over Turkish Cypriot ‘obstruction’

Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman sent letters on Friday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Barcelona FC President Joan Laporta, complaining of the “obstruction” of Turkish Cypriots in diplomacy, culture and sport. The letters followed the cancellation of a Barcelona FC-licensed children’s football camp in the north and a music festival planned at Kyrenia Castle.

Appeal for action

According to a statement from his office, Erhurman placed particular emphasis on the timing of recent events.

He said that despite an appeal by the UN secretary-general during his visit to the island that “all efforts must be made to restore trust”, the Republic had taken steps in the opposite direction.

The letters referred to the UN secretary-general’s report on ending the “isolation” of Turkish Cypriots and to decisions taken by the EU Council. Erhurman called for measures on the issue to be taken “without further delay”.

Impact on young people

Erhurman wrote that attempts by the Republic to prevent children and young people from connecting with the international community deepened mistrust between the two communities and undermined settlement efforts being pursued by the UN secretary-general.

In an earlier social media post, he said he intended to continue efforts through dialogue to confront what he described as such attempts by the Republic, while seeking to increase the international visibility of Turkish Cypriots.

Comments on negotiations

“Both sides, as always, continue to throw grist to each other’s mill,” Erhurman wrote.

He argued that the Greek Cypriot side wanted Turkish Cypriots to leave the negotiating table so it could continue to play the role of a “victim seeking a solution”, while nationalist voices in the north pushed for continued isolation.

Erhurman said the common ground between the two positions was a shared goal of rendering Turkish Cypriots invisible and disconnected from the international community. “Our people know that, as has been the case until now, we will not surrender to any side,” he wrote.

Football camp cancellation

The cancellation of the Barcelona camp was addressed separately by football federation president Haris Loizides, who wrote to his Spanish counterpart citing a 2013 agreement signed in Zurich under both Fifa and Uefa.

The agreement set out the framework for organising football in Cyprus.