Ertuğruloğlu: Federal Solution Is Dead, Only Realistic Path Is Two Sovereign States

Speaking to the Turkish Cypriot News Agency (TAK), Ertuğruloğlu highlighted that after nearly six decades of federal negotiations, which collapsed in 2017 at Crans Montana, the only realistic path forward is a cooperative arrangement between two equal and sovereign states on the island.

Ertuğruloğlu criticized ongoing claims suggesting that a federal solution is still viable, describing them as attempts to mislead the public with the illusion of “one last effort” that has been repeatedly tried and failed. He emphasized that the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral inclusion in the UN General Assembly and subsequent EU membership had effectively eliminated any chance of a federal solution under UN parameters, a fact he says is often overlooked in public discourse.

“The calls to seek a two-state solution as a form of ‘unrealistic’ or ‘unsolvable’ thinking ignore the legal and historical realities of the island,” he said, stressing that such narratives disregard the sovereign equality and international status of the Turkish Cypriot people. Ertuğruloğlu added that international actors, including the UN Security Council and the European Union, often play a role in maintaining the status quo, inadvertently supporting Greek Cypriot dominance and marginalizing Turkish Cypriot rights.

He called for unity among the Turkish Cypriot community in defending their legitimate rights and warned against relying on the EU, which he described as historically complicit in ignoring injustices against Turkish Cypriots. Ertuğruloğlu underscored that advocating for two sovereign states is not a sign of intransigence but the only realistic and just path to a durable solution.

Highlighting historical precedent, he noted that attempts to form a joint state with Greek Cypriots in 1960 had failed, reinforcing the view that coexistence under a federal model is unworkable. He further stressed that Turkey’s unwavering support remains central to ensuring the security and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot state.

Ertuğruloğlu concluded by urging all political parties to support constructive engagement in a cooperative two-state framework, which he described as the only viable and equitable model for the future of Cyprus.