Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman has dismissed recent comments by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, describing them as “null and void.”
Christodoulides had stated that a Cyprus settlement would only be possible with the removal of guarantees and the withdrawal of Turkish troops. Responding on social media, Erhürman said the remark amounted to an unacceptable precondition.
Erhürman recalled that his own four-point methodology proposal had previously rejected by Christodulides as labelled them as containing “preconditions”.
“They were not preconditions at all,” he said. “But with this statement, he has now put forward a ‘precondition’ that he knows is impossible to accept.”
He also criticised the Greek Cypriot leader for signing multiple military agreements with countries that do not have guarantor status, without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot community — “one of the two equal founding partners with sovereign rights,” he noted. “It is absurd for him to try to set such a precondition on this issue.”
Reiterating his call for a constructive atmosphere, Erhürman said both he and Christodoulides have important responsibilities in efforts toward a solution. “I have been sincere about this from the beginning,” he said. “But at this point, I can only state that Mr. Christodoulides’ comment is null and void for me.”
