Stratcom Public Forum held in Lefkoşa

The Stratcom Public Forum, organized by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye was held under the theme “A Fairer World is Possible” in Lefkoşa yesterday at the Concorde Hotel.

Speaking at the opening of the session, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Ali Murat Başçeri, emphasized the importance of addressing global governance issues that concern the entire world.

Başçeri criticized the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) for extending its mandate without the consent of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and emphasized that the only viable solution is a two-state model.

In his speech during the panel, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu criticized the United Nations (UN), stating that it does not solve problems but rather perpetuates them. Addressing the Geneva Cyprus talks, Ertuğruloğlu noted that the UN Secretary-General, while personally sincere, remains bound by Security Council decisions.

Stating that the report presented by the UN’s personal envoy, María Ángela Holguín, confirmed the absence of common ground between the two sides, Minister Ertuğruloğlu dismissed the idea that meaningful negotiations were underway, arguing that Greek Cypriot leadership refuses to discuss sovereignty with the TRNC.

Ertuğruloğlu criticized efforts to frame new talks as a significant diplomatic process, stating that such meetings could have been held in Lefkoşa rather than Geneva.

He concluded that the UN Security Council is deliberately stalling the TRNC, and unless the root cause of the Cyprus problem—the Greek Cypriot side’s illegitimate claim to the Republic of Cyprus—is addressed, no real solution can be achieved.

Furthermore, the Turkish Presidential Communications Director Prof. Dr. Fahrettin Altun who sent a video message to the panel, emphasized his firm belief in the possibility of justice and equality in the World.