Ustel condemns Christodoulides’ UN criticism of Erdogan

Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel on Thursday condemned President Nikos Christodoulides’ speech at the United Nations General Assembly, particularly his accusation that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had shown “hypocrisy of the highest form” over Cyprus.

Ustel rejects criticism

Ustel said he strongly condemned Christodoulides’ remarks about Erdogan. “If you are looking for hypocrisy on Cyprus, you know where to find it,” he said, adding that it lay with the Greek Cypriot leadership and those who supported it unconditionally.

He accused Greek Cypriots of usurping the republic established in 1960 and excluding Turkish Cypriots from their joint state. He also cited what he called years of embargoes and isolation, and alleged massacres, attacks and forced displacement of Turkish Cypriots between 1963 and 1974.

Ustel said the presence of Turkish soldiers provided peace and security in Cyprus. He added that Turkish Cypriots would continue to determine their own future, with Turkey’s support, regardless of the support Christodoulides secured from others.

Christodoulides’ UN remarks

Christodoulides said on Wednesday that Erdogan had spoken about international law, state sovereignty and territorial integrity, illegal occupation and refugees, while Turkey was doing “exactly the opposite” in Cyprus.

He said Erdogan had quoted extensively from the UN Charter in his speech on Tuesday, but that politicians should be judged by their actions rather than their words.