Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said peace talks on the future of Cyprus can take place only between “the two states” on the divided Mediterranean island.
In a speech delivered on Tuesday in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia, Erdogan reiterated Ankara’s support for the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) amid a dispute that is damaging Turkey’s relations with the European Union and Greece.
“The new negotiation process can only be carried out between the two states. We are right and we will defend our right to the end,” he said.
Greek Cypriots, who represent the island internationally and are backed by the European Union, reject a two-state deal which would imply a sovereign status to a breakaway state they view as illegal.
