A proposal with little supportErdogan wants a two-state solution in Cyprus
There has been no solution to a divided Cyprus for decades. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports a two-state solution. The new president of the Mediterranean island and the UN have different ideas.
According to the wishes of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Cyprus conflict, which has not been resolved for more than 50 years, must be ended through the formation of two independent states. This is the most realistic way to overcome the political blockade on the divided Mediterranean island, he said in Ankara alongside newly elected Turkish Cypriot President Tufan Erhurman. Therefore, his election promise to explore a federal solution is at odds with Erdogan’s stance. This kind of federal solution has long been supported by the UN.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided into two parts since 1974. At that time, the military staged a coup and wanted to force annexation to Greece. The Turkish army intervened in the fighting and occupied the Turkish-speaking north of the island. In 1983 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was proclaimed there, but only Türkiye recognized it. Peace talks between the two parts of the island have been deadlocked since 2017. The Greek part of Cyprus rejects a two-state solution.
“The Greek Cypriot side sees a solution for Cyprus in reducing the status of Turkish Cypriots to a minority,” Erdogan said. Erhurman said in his first visit to Türkiye that all parties must learn lessons from the failure of past methods. “The Turkish Cypriot people are one of the two founding partners of this island and the status of my people is not open to debate, negotiation or bargaining.” This also includes sovereign rights over the entire island and its energy resources.
