Öztürkler: “Cyprus Has Never Been Greek, and It Never Will Be”

Öztürkler firmly stated, “They should abandon the fantasy of an agreement without Turkish soldiers and Turkey’s guarantorship. Turkey’s guarantorship and the presence of Turkish soldiers are our red lines.”

Speaking on the “Morning in Cyprus” program hosted by Eda Alisinanoğlu on Kıbrıs TV, Öztürkler made key remarks regarding the current political agenda.

He pointed out that southern Cyprus continues to keep the dream of Enosis alive, stressing, “Cyprus has never been Greek, and we will not allow it to become Greek.” Criticizing the Greek Cypriot administration’s military buildup, he added, “While they demand the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island, both Greece and southern Cyprus continue to arm themselves and invite foreign forces to the island. Given these realities, no one has the right to call for the removal of Turkish troops.”

Evaluating the Geneva process, Öztürkler stated that Northern Cyprus and Turkey have adopted a new and unified political approach. “Today, the reality of two peoples and two states must be acknowledged by southern Cyprus and the international community,” he said, reminding that it was the Greek Cypriot side that walked away from the negotiations during the Annan Plan and Crans-Montana processes.

Reaffirming the commitment to protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, Öztürkler called on southern Cyprus to abandon its unrealistic aspirations. Speaking about the six-point consensus reached in Geneva, he emphasized that cooperation on issues such as electricity, water, and natural gas would serve the common good.