President Tatar: “The mentality of the Greek Cypriot leadership remains unchanged — and will remain so.”

The recent remarks by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, describing a lawful decision of our judiciary as “piracy,” constitute a direct insult to the Turkish Cypriot people and to the independence of our Courts. Such rhetoric reflects a deeply entrenched mentality that disregards mutual respect, the principle of equality, and the foundations of the rule of law.

Rather than pursuing dialogue and understanding, the Greek Cypriot leadership continues to manufacture tension through deliberate provocation. Notably, every constructive engagement we hold with the United Nations Secretary-General is followed by an orchestrated campaign of intimidation — an alarming pattern that includes politically motivated arrests and fear-mongering tactics.

This approach, which targets not only our judiciary but also seeks to intimidate the Turkish Cypriot people as a whole, lays bare the true intentions of our interlocutors. It is no secret that for years, the Greek Cypriot administration has engaged in the illicit collection of information, documents, and technical data from within our territory — data which is then funneled through its police force to be used in court proceedings. The current outcry is not born of principle, but of discomfort at the exposure and legal challenge of these unlawful practices.

We must state unequivocally: This hostile mindset, which seeks to weaponise international law enforcement mechanisms against Turkish Cypriots, now attempts to sideline the Immovable Property Commission — a legal body endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights that provides effective legal remedy to Greek Cypriot applicants in relation to properties in Northern Cyprus.  Such efforts to dismiss legitimate legal channels whilst doubling down on collective threats are not new, but they remain unacceptable.

As I have previously emphasised, the systematic campaign to exert pressure on the Turkish Cypriot people through fear and intimidation is nothing less than a policy of political terror. It has no place in a democratic society governed by justice and humanity. Those who believe they can subdue our people through coercion are gravely mistaken.

Today, we are witnessing the resurgence of this very same mentality — one that attacks our courts, undermines our institutions, and turns every opportunity into a pretext for hostility. We firmly reject this antagonistic posture and the inflammatory language that accompanies it. I condemn it in the strongest terms.

We stand united behind our State, our institutions, our judiciary, and above all, our people. The Turkish Cypriot people are not alone. They are resilient in the face of threats, and unwavering in their commitment to justice and sovereignty. No intimidation will shake their resolve.