Ertuğruloğlu Slams UN Envoy Stewart: “An Arrogant UN Official Avoiding the Crux of the Issue”

Speaking on BRT’s Gündem+ programme, Ertuğruloğlu said Stewart had become “a major disappointment” and criticised his handling of the Yiğitler–Pile road issue, saying it brought the situation to the brink of conflict.

Ertuğruloğlu described Stewart as “a UN official who responds arrogantly when confronted, avoiding the core of the issue, and who has clearly sided with the Greek Cypriots.” He added that Stewart’s recent remarks to both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot media were unsurprising and did not reflect the realities of the island.

He went on to stress that even UN Secretary-General António Guterres had never used the kind of language Stewart employed, calling it “a great disrespect to the Turkish Cypriot side.” Ertuğruloğlu said Stewart’s statements were inappropriate for someone in his position and added, “This shows we are right to scrutinise the nationalities of those appointed to such roles.”

“As Long As the Greek Cypriot Side Is Recognised as the Republic of Cyprus, There Can Be No Talk of a Solution”

Ertuğruloğlu reiterated his longstanding criticism of the international community, asserting that the root of the Cyprus problem lies with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, who continue to recognise the Greek Cypriots as the sole legitimate government. “As long as the Greek Cypriot side is viewed as the Republic of Cyprus, no one can speak seriously of a solution,” he said.

Noting that the island is now entering an election period, Ertuğruloğlu criticised those who oppose a two-state solution, saying they often claim “a two-state solution is no solution at all.”

“This statement is truly disheartening,” he said. “What is a solution? What is a deadlock? What is the actual problem? It may be easy for some to throw these phrases around. But unless you correctly diagnose the problem, you cannot find a solution. A two-state solution is a solution—because the real problem is the insistence on treating the island as if only one state exists.”