Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution to the Cyprus conflict during a visit to the Turkish-occupied north for the TEKNOFEST exhibition.
He also attended the inauguration of a government complex in the northern part of Cyprus’ divided capital, Nicosia, built by Ankara and including a new presidential palace and parliament building. Erdogan referred to the Turkish-occupied north, recognized only by Turkey as an independent state, saying it “will exist forever with the support of guarantor Turkey.”
He rejected renewed talks with the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus unless Turkish Cypriots are treated as equals.
“If the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots does not end, and a fair, lasting and viable solution that reflects the island’s realities is not found, there can be no negotiations, trade, or port access for the Greek Cypriot administration,” Erdogan said.
He accused the Greek Cypriot leadership of maintaining “an arrogant mindset” that refuses to recognize Turkish Cypriots as equals.
“No one can make Turkish Cypriots pay the price for the lack of a solution,” he said.
“The two-state solution is the joint vision of Turkey and northern Cyprus,” Erdogan added. “Any new negotiation process must be between two sovereign states.”
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup backed by Greece. Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island’s northern third, where it maintains more than 35,000 troops.