ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s president on Thursday defended “the coexistence of two states” on Cyprus, as he hosted the new leader of the island’s Ankara-backed self-proclaimed republic who had backed reunification.
In October, the breakaway territory of northern Cyprus — recognized by only Turkiye — voted overwhelmingly for former prime minister Tufan Erhurman as the next president, instead of outgoing leader Ersin Tatar, who had been Ankara’s pick.
Erhurman, who advocates reunification of the Mediterranean island that has been split since 1974, had campaigned for the resumption of negotiations with the Greek Cypriots.
But after hosting Erhurman on his first official visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said: “We believe that the most realistic solution to the Cyprus issue lies in the coexistence of two states on the island.”
“We continue to hold the view that a solution in which the two peoples on the island can live side by side in peace, prosperity, and security is possible, and we will continue our sincere efforts in this direction,” Erdogan told a press conference in Ankara.
