Following the extraordinary session of the Republic’s Assembly, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Tufan Erhürman, made a statement.
He explained that the closed session was held at the request of President Ersin Tatar, but it did not meet their expectations.
Making a statement after the session was completed Erhürman said “When a closed session is requested, as members of parliament, our natural expectation is to hear things that cannot be said publicly. But, I regret to say that once again, nothing new was said beyond what President Tatar has already stated in the press”.
He emphasized that the real issue is the concern for national and public security amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Turning his criticism toward the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, Erhürman said “From our perspective, Mr. Christodoulides has no right to exercise sovereignty over the entire island or on behalf of all its inhabitants without the will of the Turkish Cypriot people.”
He stressed that the Turkish Cypriots have as much right to exercise sovereignty as the Greek Cypriots do, and added “Unfortunately, the demands raised under the name of ‘sovereign equality’ have brought us to a point where, while we speak of sovereign equality, sovereignty is effectively being exercised by Mr. Christodoulides. He is forming alliances with various countries, and these alliances are actually putting the entire island in a precarious security position.”
Erhürman also noted that the second major issue discussed in the meeting was the property question.
He said the recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights does not represent a victory, explaining “The Immovable Property Commission was established during the Republican Turkish Party’s term in government. The last thing we want is for cracks to appear in its foundation.”
He also rejected claims that the decision was “a victory” or “a lesson to the Greek Cypriot side,” calling such narratives misleading.BRT
