Northern Cyprus leader criticizes EU chief for ignoring Turkish Cypriots

The leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has issued a sharp diplomatic critique of the European Union's top official, accusing her of marginalizing his community in a high-profile address. President Tufan Erhurman released a statement on Thursday condemning European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's speech at the opening ceremony of the Greek Cypriot administration's EU Council Presidency for making "not a single reference to Turkish Cypriots."

A Firm Stance on Historical and Political Recognition

President Erhurman's statement went beyond a simple complaint of omission. He took specific issue with a passage in von der Leyen's speech describing innovators as working "in the shadow of Byzantine churches," arguing it presented the island's history as if it existed solely under Byzantine rule, thereby ignoring the Ottoman and Turkish Cypriot heritage. Erhurman firmly stated the community's enduring presence, declaring, "The Turkish Cypriot people have been on this island, are here now, and here they will remain." He emphasized that the TRNC's approach is not to ignore such slights but to "point this out in every setting so that relations are placed on the right footing."

Call for Confidence-Building and Acknowledgement of 'Anomaly'

The TRNC president outlined his administration's consistent diplomatic message to EU officials. He stated they have repeatedly called for confidence-building measures between the bloc and Turkish Cypriots and have explained their views on what they term "the political dimension of the matter and the anomaly regarding Cyprus within the EU." Erhurman suggested that EU officials re-examining the speech text would help them understand the Turkish Cypriot perspective, concluding his message with a note of firm resolve: "It is not only dialogue, patience, and calmness that exist. Let no one overlook our determination."

Context of a Decades-Long Political Impasse

The dispute highlights the enduring division of Cyprus, a conflict dating back to the 1960s. Following ethnic strife and a 1974 Greek Cypriot coup aimed at union with Greece, Türkiye intervened as a guarantor power, leading to the island's de facto partition. The TRNC was declared in 1983 but is recognized only by Türkiye. A critical point of contention is the EU's 2004 accession of the Republic of Cyprus, represented solely by the Greek Cypriot administration, shortly after Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan that Turkish Cypriots had approved. This created what Nicosia calls an "anomaly," where the EU's acquis communautaire is suspended in the north.