Ertuğruloğlu urges Erhürman to take firm stance on mutabakat claim

Northern Cyprus Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu has criticised the lack of any response from President Tufan Erhürman to claims Christodoulides made on Erhürman’s behalf about a “mutabakat” (understanding). Speaking to the Turkish Agency Cyprus (TAK), he said he expected the president to state, “I have no such mutabakat,” and to take a very firm stance.

Ertuğruloğlu said such a statement would erase the TRNC’s status and reduce Turkish Cypriots to a community within a Greek Cypriot state. He said he could not remain silent, adding, “As Foreign Minister of this country, I am doing what I must do.” The remarks followed a leaders’ meeting held the previous day.

He also questioned the continuation of talks, asking, “Why are you meeting this person? What are you meeting about?” He said policy is based on “two sovereign equal states” and called for focus on domestic politics: “We must focus on internal politics, not foreign policy.”