By This post is also available in: ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
After President Erhürman spoke at the Bab-ı Ali meeting in Istanbul, angry reactions came from both the North and the South. Mr. Christodoulidis said, “Tufan Erhürman should make an explanation.” An explanation for what though? Turkey advocates a two-state solution, so Mr. Erhürman should explain to the public what he wants. He made this statement in response to Mr. Erhürman’s remark at the Bab-ı Ali meeting in Istanbul that Mr. Christodulidis had accepted political equality.
This is where the ulterior motive becomes apparent. Mr. Christodulidis should find out what political equality means in the aggressive statement made by Mr. Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu against Mr. Tufan Erhürman at his press conference. The aim of both is clear. To sow doubt within the Turkish Cypriot community, and also to undermine the relations between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community, which are working to establish a common political line for a solution.
After the Bab-ı Ali meeting, Mr. Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, who attacked Mr. Erhürman, stated that Mr. Erhürman’s election with 63% of the vote had nothing to do with his view of the Cyprus problem. Mr. Ertuğruloğlu may have forgotten. However, the political memory does not forget the absurd statements and remarks made by President Ersin Tatar and the leaders of the coalition partner parties, who said, “This election is between those who want two separate states and those who want a federation.” He also said, “When did his party ever get this many votes? UBP, DP, and YDP voters also voted for him because of other issues.” Let us remind him. In the referendum on the Annan Plan, which envisaged a fundamental solution to the Cyprus issue, Turkish Cypriot voters also said Yes with 65% of the vote. At that time, voters who cast their ballots for the UBP, DP, and YDP also voted Yes for a federal solution, alongside the CTP, BDH, and other democratic and leftist forces. So, this is not the first time because most people living in Northern Cyprus, regardless of their political views and where they were born, support a solution based on mutually acceptable UN parameters.
Moreover, let us remind Mr. Ertuğruloğlu that after Mr. Ersin Tatar was elected President in the second round with 51% of the vote, he and all those who thought like him said that this result reflected the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, who no longer desired any kind of partnership and the UN Parameters. They based the thesis of two separate states on this. Now, after Mr. Erhürman was elected President in the first round with 63% of the vote, does this result not reflect the will of the people regarding the solution to the Cyprus problem? Look at that, you can’t even call this shrewdness. Furthermore, Mr. Ertuğruloğlu said that 3D, namely Direct Flights, Direct Trade, and Direct Contact, could only happen with the recognition of the TRNC. During Mr. Ersin Tatar’s 5-year term as President, neither the President nor Mr. Ertuğruloğlu himself said that the TRNC should be recognized first, regarding 3D. On the contrary, Mr. Tatar stated at the table that they did not want recognition for thr sake of 3D.
Mr. Tahsin Ertoğruloğlu and Mr. Christodulidis are trying to undermine Mr. Erhürman’s credibility and sabotage the common ground between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community. They will not succeed. It’s a waste of effort…
This article was originally published on 23.02.2026
