Erhürman Responds to Arıklı: Parliament Has No Authority to Revoke Negotiation Mandate

Erhürman made the remarks during an appearance on Gündem on Kıbrıs Postası TV, hosted by Ulaş Barış. He addressed Arıklı’s comments suggesting that, if elected, he would face conflicts with the TRNC government and could be stripped of the authority to conduct federation negotiations due to the Assembly’s “two-state solution” decision.

Parliament’s Decision Only Binds the Government
Erhürman emphasized that such a claim is not significant, noting that any government decision on the Cyprus issue constitutes a “government decision” binding only the executive and does not alter the Independence Declaration. He reiterated that the President’s duty is to safeguard the constitution, and that the negotiation mandate remains the President’s prerogative.

Property Disputes Require Political and Legal Action
Addressing the Simon Aykut case, Erhürman noted that the issue involves not only real estate brokers but also individuals with equivalent property rights. He criticized Greek Cypriots for politicizing the legal system and stressed that resolving the matter requires both legal mechanisms and political negotiation.

Immovable Property Commission as Key Legal Tool
Erhürman stated that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) is the most effective tool for the legal resolution of property disputes. However, he noted that the political dimension of the issue necessitates negotiation alongside legal remedies.

Mixed Marriages and Children’s Rights
Erhürman said he would raise the issue of children from mixed marriages in his first meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader, noting that under Greek Cypriot law, these individuals have European Union citizenship rights.

Two-State Policy Fails on Property and Rights
Erhürman criticized Ersin Tatar’s two-state policy, saying it fails to address property and mixed marriage issues and would require Turkish Cypriots to relinquish their legal rights. He warned that regional energy cooperation and other rights could not be secured under a two-state framework, and emphasized that the term “federation” has been politicized to the point of triggering strong reactions. He expressed openness to renaming the model if necessary to protect rights.

Tatar Must Affirm Turkish Cypriot Rights
To demonstrate the sincerity of the two-state policy, Erhürman said Tatar should publicly confirm that Turkish Cypriots’ rights to regional energy, EU citizenship, and property will not be forfeited.

Upcoming International Engagements
Erhürman noted that in November, the TRNC would present its four preconditions for a comprehensive Cyprus settlement at the UN summit, and in December, the Schengen issue would be raised at the EU summit.

Diplomacy and Regional Stability
Erhürman highlighted contradictions between the statements of the Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister and the Turkish States Organization, emphasizing that any solution must consider negotiations. He cited the recent Gaza Peace Agreement as an example of regional stabilization that could inform the Cyprus process.

Federation as a Turkish Policy
Finally, Erhürman reminded viewers that federation is historically a Turkish policy, dating back to 1973 under then-Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit. He noted that the statement “Federation will render us a minority” contradicts previous TRNC presidents and Turkey’s long-established position on a geographically based federal solution.