Newsroom
Tufan Erhürman, the newly elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, emphasized that Turkey remains the guarantor of the entire island of Cyprus, and that political equality for Turkish Cypriots is a “red line” in any negotiations with Greek Cypriots.
In his first major interview since taking office, Erhürman told the Anadolu news agency that negotiations cannot proceed without a clear timeline and consultation with Ankara. Citing past experiences, he warned that issues over political equality have often led Greek Cypriot leaders to walk away from talks.
Erhürman also expressed concern about the growing presence of foreign military forces in the Republic of Cyprus, including troops from Israel, the United States, France, the EU, and the United Kingdom. He argued that this reinforces the need for Turkey’s guarantor role, calling the island increasingly insecure.
Criticizing recent initiatives such as the Great Sea Interconnector, Erhürman said they aim to exclude Turkey and undermine regional stability. He accused Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides of bringing foreign powers to the island to “create a balance against Turkey,” warning that such approaches make Cyprus unsafe.
Erhürman affirmed that strengthening relations with Turkey is his “personal duty,” noting his first visit as leader will be to Ankara, in line with tradition of the breakawy northern state. He concluded by asserting the enduring presence and rights of the Turkish Cypriot community, stating that efforts to ignore them are destined to fail.
