Opposition Criticizes Turkish Cypriot Leader’s Rejection of Tripartite Talks
In a recent session of the ‘parliament’, Tufan Erhurman, leader of the opposition party CTP, expressed his concern over the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar’s apparent reluctance to engage in tripartite talks. He accused Tatar of “running away from the fight” for the rights of Turkish Cypriots and avoiding necessary dialogue.
Erhurman highlighted the historical willingness of the Turkish Cypriot community to find a solution, contrasting it with the current situation where even the prospect of dialogue is being dismissed. “The rejection of dialogue resulted in the conclusion that the Turkish Cypriot people had a will for a solution but now do not even have the will for a dialogue,” Erhurman stated, emphasizing the growing gap between Tatar and the people he represents.
He further questioned the logic behind avoiding a tripartite meeting, stressing that the Turkish Cypriots aspire for equal international status and should not shy away from articulating their position. The opposition leader’s remarks followed Tatar’s brief encounter with United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin, where no progress was made towards initiating talks.
Meanwhile, ‘foreign minister’ Tahsin Ertugruloglu defended Tatar’s stance, suggesting that past experiences with UN negotiations, which spanned over six decades without yielding an agreement, justified the decision to reject further talks. Ertugruloglu also expressed skepticism towards the United Kingdom’s involvement and questioned the motives behind their support for tripartite meetings.
The session also saw comments from former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who met with Holguin and commended her determination to continue working towards a resolution despite challenges. Akinci’s tenure, which included the Crans-Montana negotiations, serves as a reminder of the complex history and ongoing struggle for consensus on the Cyprus issue.
The debate within the ‘parliament’ underscores the deep divisions and differing approaches to resolving long-standing disputes affecting the Turkish Cypriot community. As dialogue remains a contentious topic, the path forward seems fraught with political and diplomatic hurdles.
