Greek Cypriot Media: Erdoğan Presented ‘Cooperation Council’ Model to Erhürman

According to the reports, the proposed council would operate at the highest level on issues affecting the entire island, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented the framework to Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhürman during their Ankara meeting.

The model, as described by the Greek Cypriot press, envisions a loose relationship between two separate administrations and states. It is presented as a preparatory step for future negotiations, reflecting the evolving realities on the island.

Erdoğan reportedly outlined the framework as part of a pre-determined agenda during Erhürman’s first official overseas visit, emphasizing that discussions on Cyprus would proceed within these parameters. Erhürman, in turn, reiterated the Turkish Cypriot demand for recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status, emphasizing the principle of coexistence side by side.

The Greek Cypriot media noted that Erdoğan’s rhetoric appears to move between the two-state solution and a federal framework, but behind the scenes it primarily indicates a loose arrangement between the two states. The Cooperation Council is described as a coordination mechanism that would allow the two states to implement joint policies without affecting their autonomous and sovereign operations.

According to the reports, the underlying aim of the model is Turkey’s desire to maintain control over the island’s resources—including natural gas, water, and airspace—while securing a permanent military presence.