Hakan Fidan: Injustice on the Island Must Be Rectified

During an iftar gathering with journalists last night, Fidan reflected on the Cyprus talks, which took place under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on March 17-18. "The UN Secretary-General is a highly capable leader whom we appreciate. His position represents, to some extent, the conscience of the international system. Our President accepted this informal meeting proposal to demonstrate our constructive stance," he said.

Fidan recalled that Guterres had appointed former Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus. "She came, conducted meetings with all sides for six months, and prepared a report. This report was officially recorded and stated that 'there is no common ground between the two sides.' What does this mean? It confirms what we have been advocating for years. The reality on the island is that two communities live separately with their own institutions. The fact that one is recognized as a state and enjoys full privileges while the other is not recognized is the core of the island's injustice. This injustice must be addressed," Fidan explained.

He further stressed that Turkey had previously supported UN-backed settlement plans in good faith, whereas the Greek Cypriot side had rejected them. "Today, the situation on the ground has changed. This reality must be reflected in political solution efforts," he concluded.