Tufan Erhürman: Perceptions of Cyprus Must Change

Erhürman was a guest at the "Söz Onda" program, organized by the Ankara City Council and moderated by Engin Öktem. The event saw significant participation, with attendees including CTP Foreign Relations Secretary Fikri Toros, retired ambassadors, and Ankara City Council President Halil İbrahim Yılmaz.

"Perceptions of Cyprus Must Change"

Speaking at the event, Erhürman stressed the need for a shift in how Cyprus is perceived, particularly in Turkey.

"The UN Must Uphold Its Promises"

Erhürman pointed out that the perception of the Turkish Cypriot community in Turkey was not at the desired level. "With the influence of TV series and films, Cyprus is often seen as a land of illicit activities. The island’s history, human, and cultural values are not well known. We must work harder to change this perception," he stated.

Addressing the Cyprus issue, Erhürman referenced Turkey’s long-standing stance on a federation-based solution. Quoting from former Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit’s February 1, 1974 speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, he highlighted that even before 1974, Turkey had advocated for a geographically based federation.

Before resuming negotiations, Erhürman stressed that the United Nations must uphold its commitments. He outlined CTP’s four key principles, stating that they would not sit at the table unless political equality was recognized. "A system in which no Turkish Cypriot can ever become president does not constitute political equality. A Turkish Cypriot vote must be required in all decisions made by the federal state’s institutions," he asserted.

Erhürman also discussed the upcoming informal talks in Geneva next week, addressing questions from attendees regarding the Cyprus issue.