Ertuğruloğlu: The Cyprus Issue is About Recognizing the Greek Cypriot Side as the 'Republic of Cyprus'

During a discussion in the Parliament's Economic, Finance, Budget, and Planning Committee, Ertuğruloğlu addressed the criticisms regarding the Foreign Ministry's budget, stating that while the world has changed, the importance of the Ministry was evident despite its small budget share of 0.59%. He underscored that the Ministry's duty is to represent the country, not to handle domestic affairs like the Ministry of Internal Affairs or Education.

Minister Ertuğruloğlu also addressed issues related to human trafficking, particularly the problems caused by people coming to the country under the guise of students but not actually being students. He called for a mobilization to address these issues.

Ertuğruloğlu criticized the underestimation of relations with Turkish states and stated that these relations were being sabotaged by the Greek Cypriot side, which uses the European Union as a tool to apply pressure on Turkish states. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side's recognition as the "Republic of Cyprus" is the crux of the Cyprus issue and that until this issue is resolved, discussions about a solution are futile.

Highlighting that the previous process had proven ineffective, Ertuğruloğlu declared that the option of a federation has now been abandoned. He criticized the focus on societal rhetoric instead of the reality of the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and reiterated that the Greek Cypriots have never wanted a partnership with the Turkish Cypriots, especially when the 1960 Republic was established.

Ertuğruloğlu also questioned the international community’s stance, pointing out that major global powers and the European Union continue to ignore the treatment of the Turkish Cypriots, and criticized the U.S. for lifting the arms embargo on the Greek Cypriots, questioning who these military trainings were aimed at.

Finally, he expressed that the problems are not of their making, but the result of actions taken against them, and that as long as Greek Cypriots continue to view the Cyprus issue through the lens of 1974, no meaningful negotiations or solutions can be expected.