TRNC prime minister supports Erdogan's stance, demands two-state Cyprus solution

The prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ünal Üstel, has strongly endorsed recent statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the Cyprus issue, reiterating that a just and lasting solution can only be achieved through a two-state model. In a statement on Sunday, Üstel rejected any return to federation-based negotiations, asserting that the "chapter of federation is closed" and that Turkish Cypriots' sovereign equality is non-negotiable.

Response to Greek Cypriot Statements

Üstel's remarks were a direct response to comments made by the Greek Cypriot administration's leader, Nikos Christodoulides, who referenced UN resolutions favoring a federal solution. The TRNC prime minister criticized this as an attempt to "impose a unilateral model" and a rejection of the Turkish Cypriot people's legitimate will. He emphasized that his government's position for a two-state solution is "clear, explicit and indisputable," and is rooted in the community's historical struggle for existence and equal rights.

Erdoğan's Remarks as a 'Strategic Compass'

Üstel described President Erdoğan's clear stance on the issue as more than a political thesis, calling it a "strategic compass that illuminates our path." He argued that progress in negotiations is impossible with ambiguous language or models imposed by the Greek Cypriot side, stressing that sovereign equality cannot be subject to "selective interpretations of UN resolutions." He called on those advocating for a two-state solution to transparently explain the implications of past UN-brokered joint statements to the Turkish Cypriot public.

Firm Alliance and the Path Forward

"The Turkish Cypriot people know what they want. Our motherland Türkiye stands behind this stance," Üstel declared, affirming their decisive path forward. His statement aligns with President Erdoğan's pledge on December 24 that Türkiye would not allow the rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots to be compromised and that its policy on Cyprus remains steadfast. This unified front underscores the deepening coordination between Ankara and Lefkoşa, effectively ruling out a return to bicommunal federation talks and cementing the demand for international recognition of the TRNC's sovereign equality as the only viable basis for a sustainable settlement.