Statement of the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the visit to the island by Raffaele Fitto, the so-called European Union’s appointed Special Representative for Cyprus

The visit to the island by the European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, who was appointed by the European Union (EU) as the so-called Cyprus Special Representative, immediately following the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ contacts on Cyprus, constitutes the latest example of the EU’s insistence on involvement in the Cyprus issue.

At a time when the UN Secretary-General refrains from appointing a special representative, instead opting to assign a personal envoy and there are no ongoing negotiations between the parties regarding the Cyprus issue, appointing a so-called special representative upon the request of the Greek Cypriot administration without obtaining the consent of the Turkish Republıc of Northern Cyprus and completely disregarding the will of the Turkish Cypriot People holds no legitimacy for us. In this context, while any activities conducted under the said title in our country or any attempt to involve in a possible process is entirely unacceptable for our government; recognizing him as an interlocutor is out of the question.

The European Union, which accepted the membership of the Greek Cypriot administration unilaterally in 2004 with complete disregard for the will of the Turkish Cypriot People, has lost its neutrality regarding the Cyprus issue. This strategic mistake, which has further encouraged the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side and deepened the inequality between the parties, has rather become one of the most important obstacles to reach an agreement between the two sides. The European Union is unquestionably one of those most responsible for the imbalance experienced on the island today.

If the European Union is sincere about making a constructive contribution to the Cyprus issue, it must first and foremost fulfil its promises made to the Turkish Cypriot People by taking concrete steps to put an end to all unjust isolations imposed on our country for many years, particularly in political, economic, cultural, and sports fields. However, since the European Union’s decision-making mechanisms rely on the unanimity rule, it is not possible to expect a positive response from the EU regarding our above-mentioned expectation.

Today, there are two separate Peoples, two separate States, and two separate democratic authorities on the island. A lasting and sustainable agreement on the island is only possible through the acknowledgment of these realities, the confirmation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two sides, and the establishment of a cooperation-based relationship between the two states. We emphasize once again that without the acknowledgment of these realities no unilateral step taken will entail any legal or political consequences for the Turkish Cypriot People.