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Prime Minister Unal Ustel of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said Saturday that the Turkish Cypriot side continues to overcome political and economic obstacles with strong support from Türkiye.
“We are overcoming all obstacles with the great support of our motherland, the Republic of Türkiye, and we will continue to do so,” Ustel said.
Ustel made the remarks while meeting with journalists from Türkiye at a hotel, where he addressed current developments and answered questions.
Recalling the history of the TRNC, Ustel said the Greek Cypriot community has never accepted the Turkish Cypriot state and never will.
He said Turkish Cypriots have waged a long struggle with Türkiye’s support, noting that the operation carried out on July 20, 1974 brought peace and stability to the island and enabled Turkish Cypriots to attain their freedom.
Ustel said that following the Cyprus Peace Operation, Türkiye consistently supported Turkish Cypriots in their social and economic struggle, while Europe and much of the international community excluded them.
He accused the Greek Cypriot side of creating obstacles to prevent economic development in the TRNC and to hinder prosperity.
“But no matter what they do, we are overcoming all obstacles with the great support of our motherland, the Republic of Türkiye, and we will continue to do so,” Ustel said.
Cyprus has been mired in a decadeslong dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots despite repeated United Nations-led efforts to achieve a comprehensive settlement.
Ethnic violence that began in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots into enclaves for their safety.
In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at annexing the island to Greece prompted Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. The TRNC was established in 1983.
Peace talks have resumed intermittently, including a failed initiative in Switzerland in 2017 under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom.
The Greek Cypriot Administration joined the European Union in 2004, the same year Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N. plan to resolve the dispute.
Referring to Israel’s attacks on Palestine and Gaza, Ustel said the international community remains largely silent.
“The world is playing the three monkeys and remains silent. The only voice raised is that of the President of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” he said.
“If it were not for our motherland, the Republic of Türkiye, we would have suffered the same pressures, oppression and brutal massacres of the Greeks. The reason the Greeks cannot go that far is the great support we receive from the Republic of Türkiye. Otherwise, today they might have wiped out the Turkish Cypriots,” Ustel added.
Ustel said the Greek Cypriot side maintains an uncompromising stance during U.N.-sponsored talks.
“After our then-president, the late Rauf Denktas, declared the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we always discussed federation,” he said. “Until 2020, a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on political equality was negotiated. Finally, we saw that the Greeks were simply wasting our time.”
He said the Greek Cypriot side has exerted pressure to hinder economic development, encourage youth emigration and weaken the Turkish Cypriot population.
“Therefore, in 2020, after consultations with Türkiye, we concluded that if there is to be an agreement in the TRNC, it must be based on sovereign equality and a two-state status,” Ustel said. “From that day on, we began working to further strengthen our state.”
Ustel said the future of Turkish Cypriots depends on opening the state to the world, noting that Türkiye’s president has called on the international community to recognize the TRNC during the past three U.N. General Assemblies.
“With that call, we are making a great effort to promote our country,” he said.
Asked whether a federal solution could return to the agenda, Ustel referred to meetings between President Tufan Erhurman and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, as well as subsequent statements by the U.N.’s Cyprus representative.
“Of course, even if these are not a full federation opening, they are signs of federation,” Ustel said.
He noted that although Erhurman’s party adopted a pro-federation stance at its congress, the president himself has not publicly endorsed either federation or a two-state model.
“We are waiting. Hopefully, he will also see the realities,” Ustel said.
Asked about projects in Varosha, known as Maras, Ustel said that about 3 million people have visited the area since part of it was opened for tourism in 2020.
He said the government aims to rehabilitate hotels, schools and social facilities in Varosha and integrate the area into the national economy, though legal disputes and judicial processes are ongoing.
Addressing construction investments, Ustel said tourism, education and construction are vital for economic development on the island. He rejected claims that TRNC citizenship is granted in exchange for purchasing property.
“We grant citizenship, subject to security screening, to people who come for investment purposes and make investments at certain levels,” he said. “But they must meet our criteria.”
Ustel said plans to transmit electricity to the TRNC via undersea cables from Türkiye have stalled due to a lack of approval from Europe.
He said all feasibility studies for the project were completed and that it would provide cheaper, greener energy and support tourism and the economy.
“Unfortunately, Europe’s two spoiled states—one Greece and one the Greek Cypriot government—are blocking it,” Ustel said, adding that approval has been delayed for about 1.5 years.
If the project does not proceed, he said, alternative solutions will be pursued.
Ustel also addressed the case related to the collapse of the Grand Isias Hotel in Adiyaman during the Feb. 6, 2023 earthquakes, which killed 72 people, including TRNC athletes.
He said the government will appeal the verdicts sentencing three defendants to 10 years in prison.
“We will take all of these to a higher court and continue the legal process,” Ustel said. “We will continue our efforts to ensure these individuals receive longer sentences.”
Responding to claims that crimes go unpunished in the TRNC, Ustel said internal security is a top priority.
He said recent shooting incidents were swiftly resolved and that authorities are considering amendments to the penal code to increase sentences to more than 20 years.
“Claims like ‘penalties are light in Northern Cyprus’ are not true,” he said. “On the contrary, our penalties are 10 years and above, and now we may raise them further.”
Ustel accused the Greek Cypriot side of spreading claims that the TRNC is unsafe and of supplying weapons used in criminal incidents.
“As a government, we are working to intervene immediately in even the slightest incident, impose the harshest penalties and raise the country’s peace and tranquility to an even higher level,” he said.
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