Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said he does not wish for negotiations “for the sake of negotiations” on the Cyprus issue, but for a process that leads to a solution, stressing that the Turkish Cypriots are one of the two founding partners on the island and that anything that harms them cannot be considered legitimate.
First interview
Erhurman gave his first interview since his election on Bayrak television channel on Tuesday evening, answering questions from five journalists, representing different private media outlets. He said that in the short period since taking office, he has worked on implementing all the steps he promised during the campaign.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, he said he announced his “4-point proposal” on methodology for the negotiation process before he was elected and shared it with all sides. He explained the difference between talks and negotiations and prepared a 10-point list within this framework. He added that the list includes proposals beneficial not only to the Turkish Cypriot side but to both communities, citing as an example the Ayios Dhometios crossing point.
Founding partner with sovereign rights
Erhurman reiterated his view that the Turkish Cypriots are one of the two founding partners on the island. “They have as much sovereignty on this island as the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots will not allow their sovereign rights to be violated or ignored. We are a people whose will must be recognised,” he said.
The abscess
Commenting on the comparison of the Cyprus issue to an “abscess” made by the US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, Erhurman said that Cyprus is an international issue. He noted that US influence in the region is increasing daily. “The Cyprus issue appears to be part of the broader picture. If no solution is found to the Cyprus problem, as Mr Barrack envisions, this regional picture, which we call the broader picture, will not be completed in a healthy way,” he added.
Guarantees
Asked again about his earlier statement that a comment by President Nikos Christodoulides on abolishing guarantees was “null and void”, which was considered harsh, Erhurman responded: “Yes, it was a harsh statement. What I said was that I ignored it. It means I did not see it, because if I had seen it, I would have had to respond. Our position on guarantees is clear. We have a unanimous decision in parliament regarding guarantees. If this is put on the table on the first day, the discussion will not work.”
Speaking about the maritime agreement between Cyprus and Lebanon, he said that the will of the Turkish Cypriots must be recognised. He added that increasing military activity in the region and the military agreements signed by the Republic of Cyprus with countries such as Israel, France and the United States in recent years are being closely monitored. “There is serious activity from the Greek Cypriot side. Both regional and global powers are expanding militarily from the Greek Cypriot side,” he said. This, he added, directly concerns Turkish Cypriots.
Bypassing the Turkish Cypriots
He said the Greek Cypriot side is trying to establish contact with Turkey without addressing the Turkish Cypriots. “These behaviours show contempt towards Turkish Cypriots. The approach of establishing contact with Turkey while bypassing us reflects the understanding that Turkish Cypriots are a minority. I will reject this throughout my life,” he said.
Referring to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ phrase “this time will be different”, Erhurman said he proposed a new methodology during his term. “The Turkish Cypriot side wants to revive cooperation in which it has both de facto and de jure rights,” he said.
EU accession and asymmetry
He argued that the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union provides an unfair advantage to the Greek Cypriot side. “You accepted this structure, which is essentially the Greek Cypriot republic, into the EU before the Cyprus problem was solved. Now, this structure signs agreements with the entire world. We tell the whole world that we want a solution. But this solution will come through inclusion, not through exclusion,” he said.
Energy and regional tensions
On the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project, he said the project is financially and politically not feasible. “This project is neither economically viable nor does it serve peace. True peace is built on interdependence. No project that excludes Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will succeed,” he said.
He added that the EU confirmed its support for GSI even though everyone knew the project was not feasible. “If the EU wants a solution in Cyprus, it should develop its projects taking regional factors into account,” he said.
On developments in the Middle East, he said he does not foresee intense conflict on the island. He added that if the EU truly wants to support peace and stability in the region, it should focus on projects that do not exclude Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. “If they really want a solution, they should develop policies that include all actors in the region and promote interdependence,” he said.
The four-point proposal
Regarding reports that President Christodoulides has accepted three of the four points of his proposal on the methodology of the talks, Erhurman said he did not hear him confirm such a thing and that the meeting did not have that format. “Even in our private meeting, he did not say, ‘The first three points are fine, but one does not work’. We will meet soon. If he tells me ‘I accept the three points’, I can say that he accepted political equality, rotating presidency and at least one positive vote without sitting at the negotiating table,” he said.
The fourth point relates to Erhurman's call to ensure that there is no return to the status quo, should the negotiations fail once again, and responsibility appears to lie with the Greek Cypriots.
He also said, realising he cannot on his own create a balance against the power of Turkey, Christodoulides is trying to pursue international agreements, especially in military matters.
Rotating presidency and regional balance
He said rotating presidency is vital, recalling the last dinner at Crans-Montana, and stated he wants clarity from day one. Noting that the Cyprus issue is now part of a much broader international picture, he said that the approach of the United States, Israel, the Cyprus Republic and Greece has shifted the regional balance of power. The process, he said, is a multilateral structure requiring the adjustment of many elements, and he stressed their opposition to Turkish Cypriots being treated as pawns on the international stage.
5+1 format
Regarding the 5+1 format of talks with the two communities and three guarantor powers under UN auspices, he said previous meetings took place without resolving issues. Therefore, if such a meeting is to be held, he wants it to occur after certain matters are achieved and after both communities demonstrate their will.
They are open to a new 5+1 negotiation process, he added, but some concrete progress should be made in Nicosia first. “No problem, we will go to the 5+1, but if we are going to go, let us resolve some issues here, so that the Secretary-General can say, 'Look, both sides have made progress'.”
He said previous meetings in Geneva and New York were “meaningless” and did not yield concrete results. “If the opening at Mia Milia and Louroutzina had been announced in Geneva or New York, an atmosphere would have been created, but it did not happen. Each time, we meet and leave without resolving any issue,” he said. Repeating such a process, he added, would further discourage society.
He said agreement must be reached on at least some crossing points, the installation of solar panels in the buffer zone and the 10-point package of proposals he submitted. “If agreement is reached on these issues, we will announce it at the 5+1 meeting with the Secretary-General. We will go, but there is no reason to go until these are resolved,” he noted.
At the same time, Erhurman argued that participation in the 5+1 talks is not considered a precondition, but both sides must show their willingness. “I do not want to impose conditions on which side should take priority, but if we go, I want to go after achieving something in Nicosia and after both communities have shown their will,” he said.
Source: CNA