Bahçeli: United Cyprus Federation is a pipe dream and a disaster for Turkish sovereignty

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, speaking at his party's group meeting in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), commented on the Cyprus issue and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. He said provocations were continuing in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, and stressed that Cyprus is the strategic centre of the "Blue Homeland" in Türkiye's security doctrine.

Bahçeli said Türkiye was closely monitoring contacts between representatives of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side. He also addressed claims in the Greek Cypriot press that closed Varosha (Kapalı Maraş) would be handed to United Nations administration and that Famagusta port would be operated under European Commission oversight. He said these claims, which had not been denied, presented a grave picture for the sovereignty rights of Turkish Cypriots.

Bahçeli, who openly opposes federation-based solutions in Cyprus, sharply criticised the idea of a united Cyprus federation. "The United Cyprus Federation is a pipe dream and a disaster for Turkish sovereignty," he said. He also criticised the Greek Cypriot administration's ties with Israel and called on his brothers in the TRNC to stay vigilant, saying: "Cyprus has been Turkish for centuries and will remain Turkish forever."