TRNC Prime Minister Üstel condemned what he described as efforts by the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus to target the Turkish Cypriot people’s international contacts, economic and social life, institutions and sovereign rights.
Üstel said pressure on an international music event planned in Kyrenia and efforts to prevent Mehmet Dana, chief of staff at the TRNC Presidency, from contacting foreign diplomatic representatives reflected the same mentality.
Addressing the demands and threats directed at TRNC territory, particularly Varosha, Famagusta and Kyrenia, as well as the political pressure he said was being exerted through the Immovable Property Commission, Üstel argued that these developments showed the Greek Cypriot administration’s mentality had not changed.
“The Turkish Cypriot people will not accept isolation”
Üstel alleged that despite the Greek Cypriot administration’s rhetoric about federation, reunification and confidence-building, it was trying to obstruct the Turkish Cypriot people’s contacts with the world and their participation in international events.
Üstel said attempts to block an international cultural and music event through political pressure, prevent contacts with foreign diplomats, and issue threats over Varosha, Famagusta and Kyrenia would undermine confidence rather than build it. “The Turkish Cypriot people will not accept isolation, exclusion and inhumane practices,” he said.
Üstel said the Turkish Cypriot people had the right to establish relations with the world and explain themselves, adding that no one could dictate whom they should meet, which country’s representative they could contact or which international event they could organize in their own country.
Emphasis on the Immovable Property Commission
Üstel said developments concerning the Immovable Property Commission were another reflection of the same mentality, noting that the commission was a mechanism established by the Turkish Cypriot side with international approval and operated through its own institutions.
Üstel said it was unacceptable for the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus to try to neutralize the Immovable Property Commission through political pressure, adding that the Greek Cypriot administration could not decide how institutions in the TRNC should operate.
Üstel argued that the property issue could not be turned into a political weapon to put the Turkish Cypriot people under economic pressure, portray the TRNC as a target for investors and obstruct the country’s development. He said this approach was unacceptable.
“You cannot achieve results with old methods”
Üstel said the Greek Cypriot administration could not prevent the Turkish Cypriot people from maintaining international contacts or force the TRNC to retreat by targeting its institutions and economy.
Üstel said the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus could not make the Turkish Cypriot people’s security a subject for negotiation by questioning Türkiye’s effective and de facto guarantor role and the Turkish military’s deterrent presence on the island. He added that it was not possible to continue using the language of confidence, peace and a solution while taking such steps.
“No future can be built by disregarding the Turkish Cypriot people”
Üstel said they supported dialogue and cooperation in Cyprus, adding that dialogue did not mean pressure, cooperation did not mean isolation, and a solution did not mean the Turkish Cypriot people giving up their rights, sovereignty or state.
Üstel said the Greek Cypriot administration needed to abandon its policy of pressure, threats and obstruction against the Turkish Cypriot people to demonstrate that it wanted a new era. He said no partnership could be established by cutting the Turkish Cypriot people off from the world, they could not be pushed back through economic pressure, and their will could not be broken by targeting their institutions.
