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Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Tufan Erhurman said Friday that the Turkish Cypriot side will never compromise on political equality.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency following a handover ceremony in Lefkosa, Erhurman said the Turkish Cypriot side will not renegotiate what is already guaranteed under United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Erhurman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party, won the TRNC presidential election last Sunday, defeating incumbent President Ersin Tatar in a decisive first-round victory.
“Political equality is my vital red line. It cannot be up for negotiation,” he said. “Whenever it becomes a bargaining chip, the Greek Cypriot leadership uses it as a pretext to withdraw from the table.”
He said the Greek Cypriot side has repeatedly demonstrated its unwillingness to share power throughout the history of peace talks.
Erhurman urged the U.N. to uphold its commitments, citing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ remarks after the Crans-Montana talks that any future negotiation process must have a defined time frame.
Underscoring the Turkish Cypriot people’s democratic tradition, Erhurman said political differences in parliament never harm mutual respect. “Our citizens have a deep sense of democracy and tolerance,” he said.
Reiterating that “there are no losers in this election,” he added: “The Turkish Cypriot people won, our children won, our brotherhood won. I never favor language that divides society into winners and losers.”
He said his main duty as president is to represent all citizens and promote unity, pledging to prevent division within the country.
Addressing the growing military presence of foreign powers in the Greek Cypriot administration, Erhurman said it makes Türkiye’s guarantor role “even more crucial.”
“The presence of Western powers in southern Cyprus leaves Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides in no position to challenge Türkiye’s guarantor status,” he said.
“Türkiye is the guarantor of the entire island, and this has become even more significant today. Every day, it is getting harder for us to feel secure.”
Referring to regional tensions stemming from Israel’s actions and Iranian threats, Erhurman said Turkish Cypriots are facing security risks from decisions made without their involvement.
He said any negotiation or diplomatic initiative on the Cyprus issue will be conducted in full coordination with Türkiye.
“No president in our history has ever conducted talks without consultation with Türkiye … Our relationship with Türkiye is unique, unlike that of any other two states,” he said.
Erhurman added that strengthening ties with Türkiye will be one of his top priorities, stressing that “no negotiation or foreign policy move will ever take place without consultation with Ankara.”
Commenting on the proposed electricity interconnection project between Greece, Israel, and the Greek Cypriot administration, Erhurman said excluding Türkiye from the route is “irrational and politically motivated.”
“The logical connection should be Cyprus–Türkiye–Greece,” he said.
“Türkiye, the Turkish Cypriot people, and the TRNC cannot be ignored in this region. We have always existed, we exist today, and we will continue to exist tomorrow. Those who act as if we don’t exist will eventually lose.”
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