Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman has criticised President Nikos Christodoulides over his recent comments on a possible “return” of Turkish Cypriots to the Republic of Cyprus, describing the remarks as positions that go beyond the limits of reason.
Erhürman accused the President of “muddled” thinking and of making “inconsistent, unfounded and unserious statements” in relation to his references to join NATO, renegotiate the British Bases, call for Turkey to recognise the Cyprus Republic and appeal to Turkish Cypriots to rejoin the Republic.
In remarks on Monday, President Christodoulides said that Nicosia has “a clear plan” on how it intends to move forward on all issues related to the British Bases in Cyprus. He also signalled that Turkish Cypriots could have a say in the negotiations on this matter “once they return to the Republic of Cyprus,” while adding that Turkey could have a role in determining the future of the Bases “after it first recognises the Republic of Cyprus”.
Erhürman responded on social media, accusing Christododoulides of lacking seriousness and shifting constantly from one position to another while putting forward ideas that “stretch the limits of what is possible – or even reasonable”.
In reference to the President’s claims that he will “reunify the homeland based on the teachings of 1821, the Turkish Cypriot leader called on Christodoulides not to get dizzy going so far back to learn from history. Instead, he called on the President to learn the lessons from 2004 and 2018.
Informal translation of full statement by Tufan Erhürman:
“Mr Christodoulides has moved from saying, ‘Let’s resume from where we left off at Crans-Montana’, to promoting a ‘five‑point roadmap’ and now to calling on Turkish Cypriots to ‘return to the Republic of Cyprus’.
Ideas that stretch the limits of what is possible – or even reasonable – are flying around. From NATO membership, to the issue of the British Bases, to expectations that Turkey might recognise the Republic of Cyprus – it seems the thinking has become thoroughly muddled.
Such a string of inconsistent, unfounded and unserious statements can only be the product of a kind of panic that sends reason on holiday.
And now Mr Christodoulides claims he will ‘reunify the homeland based on the teachings of 1821’. It is hardly worth spending time analysing such remarks.
If Mr Christodoulides truly wants to learn from history, he should not look so far back. He should look to 2004 and 2017. Reaching too far into the past only seems to cause dizziness.
We, however, remain here with our people’s judgment, will, seriousness and consistency. We are fully aware of the weight of our words. We hope for the same from others.”