Erdogan Reaffirms Two-State Approach to Cyprus Issue During Visit to Northern Cyprus
Lefkosa, The Gulf Observer: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reiterated that any future negotiations regarding the Cyprus issue must be conducted on the basis of sovereign equality between two states, not between two communities. His remarks came during the inauguration ceremony of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Presidential Complex and Republic Assembly in Lefkosa on Saturday.
“Until a solution that reflects the realities of the island is reached, we will not engage with or trade with the Greek Cypriot Administration,” President Erdogan declared, emphasizing Türkiye’s unwavering position on the matter.
Erdogan reaffirmed Ankara’s robust support for the Turkish Cypriots, warning that efforts to obstruct their development would be met with Türkiye’s full solidarity. “Any attempt to hinder the progress of the Turkish Cypriots will face our resolute backing for Lefkosa,” he stated.
The Cyprus issue remains one of the most protracted disputes in the region. Tensions on the island date back to the 1960s, when intercommunal violence led Turkish Cypriots to retreat into enclaves. In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece prompted a military intervention by Türkiye, acting as a guarantor power under international agreements. The intervention led to the establishment of the TRNC in 1983.
Despite multiple rounds of United Nations-led peace talks, including the failed 2017 initiative in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, no comprehensive resolution has been achieved. The Greek Cypriot administration’s unilateral accession to the European Union in 2004 further complicated negotiations, particularly after Greek Cypriots rejected a UN-backed reunification plan in a referendum held the same year.
Erdogan’s statements underscore Türkiye’s strategic pivot towards formalizing the two-state model, a stance increasingly championed by the TRNC leadership in recent years.
