Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman reacted sharply to attempts to cancel festivals and obstruct Turkish Cypriots' contacts with the international community. His remarks come after a statement from Elam, in which the parliamentary party called for the cancellation of two international events planned in the occupied areas.
In a Facebook post, Erhürman said the Turkish Cypriot side had anticipated the reactions that would follow once the Turkish Cypriots' will to resolve the Cyprus problem became more visible.
"We knew what would happen once the Turkish Cypriots' will for a solution became visible," he wrote, adding that his side had decided from the outset to remain "patient, calm and determined."
According to Erhürman, the loss of the "comfort zone" would bring every kind of provocation to the surface. "We knew that once the comfort zone disappeared, every kind of provocation would come to the fore. They would try to touch our most sensitive nerve endings," he wrote.
Erhürman further claimed that efforts are under way to get festivals cancelled and to prevent Turkish Cypriots from having contact with the international community.
"Now, initiatives are being launched to get festivals cancelled. Competitions are being organised on the theme of 'I'm the one who stopped Turkish Cypriot youth from meeting the world.' Intense efforts are being made so that the international community and diplomats won't see us, won't know us and won't hear us... and a lot more besides," he wrote.
His remarks follow a statement from Elam, which said that, after what it called the "cancellation of the NEXUS festival," it has now turned its attention to two further events planned in the occupied part of Nicosia.
Specifically, the party pointed to the "Zamna" music festival, scheduled for 10 October 2026, and a training camp run by the Spanish football academy Barcelona.
In its statement, Elam described the prospect of sporting and other international events being held in the occupied areas as "unthinkable," arguing that the north "is the result of the barbaric Turkish invasion and the continuing occupation" and does not constitute a recognised state.
The party also called on the Spanish government to intervene to cancel the training camp, and urged the Republic of Cyprus's foreign ministry to take the necessary steps to secure the cancellation of both events.
For his part, Erhürman repeated that the Turkish Cypriot side has no intention of reacting to what he described as the provocations it faces.
"We will not be provoked, we will not get angry, we will not give in to our anger, we will not lose our composure, and our patience will not run out," he wrote, adding that his side's initiatives, reporting and contacts continue intensively.
He concluded by saying that, together with the Turkish Cypriot people, his side will continue on its path "with patience, composure, seriousness and determination," in line with what he described as the Turkish Cypriots' will for a solution and for engagement with the international community.
