Arıklı: People Will Declare Their Decision on 19 October

In a post on social media, Arıklı referred to his previous remarks that “the concept of federation should be removed from the preamble of the TRNC Constitution and eliminated entirely.”

He recalled a conversation he claimed took place in 1983 between Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, alleging that Pakistan had recognized the TRNC but withdrew its recognition due to the pursuit of a federal solution. Arıklı also referred to a similar remark made to him in 2008 by the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister, who reportedly said, “You cannot negotiate a federation with the Greek Cypriots and at the same time seek recognition.”

Arıklı argued that the country’s international recognition would not be possible until the federation debate is closed.

Emphasizing that both Turkey and the TRNC “closed the book on federation” in 2020, Arıklı said, “On 19 October, the people will also declare their decision on this matter,” once again referring to the upcoming presidential election.