The Turkish Cypriot side has strongly reacted to comments by Republic of Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis calling for Cyprus to become a “normal, modern, European state” free from “anachronistic guarantees and occupying armies”.
In a statement issued ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, the Turkish Cypriot side said the presence of Turkey in Cyprus was an “essential” condition for the security of Turkish Cypriots.
It said the guarantor role of Turkey remained necessary, particularly in light of the Republic of Cyprus’ defence programmes and military cooperation with other countries in recent years.
“The Turkish Cypriot people will not accept, under any circumstances, the withdrawal of the Turkish army from the island,” the statement said.
Dispute over the events of 1974
The statement also repeated the Turkish Cypriot position on the events of 1974, referring to Turkey’s military intervention as a “Peace Operation”.
It claimed the intervention ended what the Turkish Cypriot side says the community had suffered between 1963 and 1974 and created security conditions on the island.
The statement accused the Greek Cypriot side of “distorting historical realities” and attempting to mislead the international community.
Republic of Cyprus representation disputed
The Turkish Cypriot side also challenged the Republic of Cyprus’ authority to represent the entire island, arguing that the bicommunal partnership established in 1960 ceased to exist in 1963.
The Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognised as the state representing the island, while the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” is recognised only by Turkey.
The dispute over guarantees and foreign troops remains one of the longstanding issues in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. The Republic of Cyprus has repeatedly called for a settlement involving a Cyprus free from occupation troops and anachronistic guarantees.
Turkish Cypriot side reiterates two-state position
The statement concluded by reiterating the Turkish Cypriot position in favour of a two-state settlement.
It called for recognition of “sovereign equality” and “equal international status” for the Turkish Cypriot side, arguing that a permanent settlement can only be achieved through cooperation between “two independent and sovereign states”.
This position has also been reiterated by Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, who said last week that the recognition of two sovereign equal states and the Turkish Cypriot community’s equal international status were the basis for securing its future.
The latest exchange comes as the Cyprus problem remains a focus of diplomatic activity ahead of the UN General Assembly, with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman continuing regular contacts.
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