Turkey’s Yilmaz accuses Greek Cypriots of rejecting solution

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz claimed on Friday that Greek Cypriots are not sincere in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, reiterating Ankara’s support for a two-state solution.

Speaking during a joint press conference in Ankara with the north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel, Yilmaz said Greek Cypriots “never wanted and do not want to share political power and prosperity on an equal basis with the Turkish Cypriot people”, alleging they view Turkish Cypriots as a minority and attempt to integrate them into “their so called state”.

He added that “their attitude in every meeting and their response to every positive appeal clearly demonstrates this”.

He described the coexistence of “two states” as the most realistic path to a “just, lasting and sustainable solution”, arguing that “no one can find a solution by closing their eyes to the realities on the island”.

While maintaining that position, he said cooperation between the two sides remains possible, remarking that “any kind of cooperation that will benefit the entire island should be considered”.

According to Yilmaz, the international community must recognise that no proposal ignoring “the realities of the island and the will of both sides” can deliver a viable settlement.

He said a future resolution depends on acceptance of the “legitimate and inherent rights and sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot people”, adding that lifting what he described as the “unjust and inhuman isolation” of the Turkish Cypriot side is a minimum requirement.

He further stated that Turkey would continue its support, saying “we will continue shoulder to shoulder our just struggle with our Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters with all our strength”.

Yilmaz also pointed to what he described as increasing security risks on the island, ridiculing the republic which he said, “behaves as if it represents the whole of Cyprus”.

He asserted that any approach ignoring the north as “a sovereign and equal state on the island is invalid from the perspective of Turkey”.

Addressing Turkish Cypriots directly, he said “no matter how much the Greek Cypriot side arms itself, no matter how much it tries to open the island to the use of third countries, as long as Turkey exists, you will continue to live safely under your own flag”.

He cautioned that foreign military deployments in the region “should in no case be permanent”, cautioning that otherwise “the delicate balance that exists on the island of Cyprus will be disturbed”.

His remarks come amid bellicose rhetoric from Turkish officials, with the former defence minister Hulusi Akar issuing the controversial warning towards Greek Cypriots that this Easter “would be their last”.