The president of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Tufan Erhurman, said the rights of Turkish Cypriots as “constitutionally equal partners” are being ignored, undermining efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Speaking on a Haber Kibris webcast, Erhurman said Turkish Cypriots are “equal founding partners” in the Republic of Cyprus’s constitution, with Turkey as a guarantor. He claimed the current administration has taken unilateral measures ignoring these facts.
“Cyprus cannot join Nato without a solution, as Turkey has veto rights”, he said. He added that the main issue was not Nato membership but increasing militarisation in the region, citing the US base provision and opening of Paphos airbase to various countries.
Erhurman warned that seeking support from major powers would lead to the Republic of Cyprus losing its standing rather than gaining support.
Separately, Serdar Denktash, former Democratic Party president and son of Rauf Denktash, said Cyprus’s potential Nato membership would nullify the Treaty of Guarantee and Alliance. “When American troops first began deploying in the south, I warned this could lead to Nato membership”, he said.
Denktash called for developing their own solution with Ankara’s support rather than waiting for foreign proposals. He added that neither the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation model nor a “two-state” solution was achievable through current methods.
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