In a speech at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 11, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to fostering positive relations with Greece and ensuring stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean. Highlighting Turkey’s pivotal role in European security, he called for accelerated EU membership and greater recognition of Turkish Cypriot rights, while urging the EU to overcome internal hesitations and embrace Turkey as a full partner.
Tag: Turkish Cypriots
Cyprus remains divided since Turkey’s 1974 invasion, and while recent UN-hosted talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders showed progress in confidence-building measures, deep disagreements persist. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is set to appoint an envoy to revive negotiations, but major issues—including territorial disputes and governance—continue to block a path toward reunification.
A landmark case before the Supreme Court of Cyprus is set to decide if children born to Turkish settlers and Turkish Cypriots are entitled to Cypriot citizenship. The case, involving a 46-year-old woman denied citizenship due to her father’s illegal entry, could affect thousands of individuals with similar backgrounds. The ruling may have significant political and legal ramifications for Cyprus, where citizenship remains a contentious issue tied to the island’s division.
Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu has cast doubt on the upcoming UN-led meeting in Geneva, arguing it will lead nowhere in resolving the Cyprus dispute. While Greek Cypriots seek a federal solution, Turkish Cypriots insist on a two-state model—a stance rejected by the Republic of Cyprus. With both sides entrenched in their positions, the talks are expected to underscore the island’s deep divisions rather than produce a breakthrough.
On February 11, 1959, Greece and Turkey reached an agreement to address the Cyprus issue.…
Cyprus’ rival leaders will join a UN-led meeting next month to revive stalled peace talks. With deep divisions on the island’s future, the talks aim to bridge differences amid ongoing diplomatic challenges.
Turkey has reiterated its support for a two-state solution for Cyprus, following discussions with the leader of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which remains unrecognized by the international community. As the United Nations prepares for peace talks in March, Greek Cypriots continue to reject this proposal, while both sides face a complex path toward resolving the island’s division.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides pledged to deepen ties during Starmer’s historic visit to Cyprus, the first by a UK leader since 1971. The visit underscored Cyprus’s alignment with the West amid shifting geopolitical dynamics following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Discussions focused on sanctions enforcement and regional security, but the trip drew criticism from Turkish Cypriot leaders for excluding the breakaway North Cyprus from dialogue.
Turkey is voicing concerns over the arrival of Israel’s Iron Dome-type air defense system in Cyprus, seeing it as part of a broader strategy to enhance the island’s defense capabilities amid rising military ties with Israel. The move follows the lifting of the U.S. arms embargo and growing military cooperation with Western countries, sparking strong reactions from the Turkish Cypriot administration, which accuses Cyprus of escalating regional tensions.
An informal UN-hosted dinner in New York between Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar aimed to revive peace talks but ended with little progress. Both sides remained divided on key issues like sovereign equality and security guarantees, though future discussions with guarantor powers were agreed upon.
Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar urged Greek Cypriot leadership to recognize the realities of the island, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution that acknowledges “two peoples, two states, and two democracies.” Speaking from New York, Tatar criticized increasing oppression against Turkish Cypriots and called for renewed dialogue based on political equality and mutual respect.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides expressed his readiness to immediately resume reunification talks during a speech at the UN General Assembly, urging Turkey to join the effort. He emphasized the need for peace and cooperation while addressing the long-standing division of the island following a Turkish invasion decades ago.
Turkey has strongly criticized the new defense cooperation agreement between the US and the Republic of Cyprus, claiming it hinders progress on resolving the Cyprus issue. The pact, aimed at strengthening military ties and reassessing regional policies, has prompted Turkey to reaffirm its role as a guarantor state committed to protecting Turkish Cypriots’ security and prosperity.
The first direct flight from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Larnaca International Airport has sparked debate within the Turkish Cypriot community, contrasting with years of promises from officials regarding direct flights to Ercan Airport in North Cyprus.
Leading German travel agency TUI l has reportedly communicated to the illegally occupying Turkish forces in Cyprus that day trips to the occupied territories will cease after August 31, following an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar has rejected Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides’ claim of a planned trilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Tatar dismissed the announcement, citing no official invitation from the UN and a lack of preparation.
Over 2,000 Melburnians rallied against Turkey’s continued occupation of Cyprus, calling for a unified island and condemning Ankara’s support for a separate Turkish Cypriot state.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asserted that the two-state model is the only viable solution for the Cyprus issue, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots. His comments come amid escalating tensions between Turkey and Greece, with criticism aimed at Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias following his statements during a visit to Cyprus. The situation remains a focal point for international scrutiny in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived on Saturday in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend events marking the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.
In a recent interview, Ersin Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot leader, claimed that Greeks view Cyprus as the “13th island” of Greece and are pursuing the goal of creating a “Greater Greece,” while asserting that this expansionist ideology extends their sovereign rights in the Mediterranean. He marked July 20, 1974, as a significant date for Turkish Cypriots, linking their independence to a historical Turkish military intervention.