Turkey Reiterates Call for Two-State Solution in Cyprus

Turkey has renewed calls for a two-state solution to the long-standing Cyprus dispute during the visit of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the occupied northern part of the Mediterranean island.

Fidan criticized attempts to revive outdated solution formulas, stating, “Ignoring the existing reality and trying to produce a solution to the Cyprus problem from 50-year-old status quo is really wasting time in vain.”

Stating that the isolation that the Turkish Cypriots have been subjected to for the last 50 years has “almost turned into a silent crime against humanity,” he added.

Meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar he said “there are silent partners in this crime against humanity that is taking place in front of the eyes of the world, and many of them are doing this either knowingly or unknowingly. As Türkiye, we are doing our utmost to ensure that the TRNC is minimally affected by this isolation.”

TRNC is the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which the international community does not recognize.

Turkey’s Fidan: No other option for Cyprus

Emphasizing that everyone sees the importance and registration of a two-state solution on the island and that there is no other option other than this, Fidan said that other ways have been tried but have not been successful.

He said that the two states on the island, which trust each other and respect each other’s sovereignty, borders and security, can bring much more positive effects, economic development, peace, stability, and the potential to bring a tremendous contribution to the region and beyond with various cooperation models to be developed.

“However, there are many people who ignore this and do not even dare to express it, because everyone has their own domestic political concerns . . . The politicians in the Greek Cypriot side have their own areas of discussion. Everyone continues on their political path without breaking their own routine, by being in as safe a space as possible, and without taking risks. So, does this bring a solution to the island? It does not,” Fidan added.

Tatar, for his part, said that the federation-based solution formula, which had failed in the 56-year negotiation process in Cyprus, was imposed on them, and emphasized that they would not accept this exhausted model that has become the status quo and that they would say “No to the status quo.”

Related: Standing Together: Greece and Cyprus Advocate for UN-Led Resolution

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