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Erhürman: Displeased with von der Leyen's Speech - 'Not a Single Line About Turkish Cypriots'

Published January 8, 2026, 13:16
Erhürman: Displeased with von der Leyen's Speech - 'Not a Single Line About Turkish Cypriots'

Tufan Erhürman, a Turkish Cypriot politician, expressed his displeasure with the speech given by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Cyprus, as it contained no reference to Turkish Cypriots or their historical presence on the island. Mr. Erhürman criticized the emphasis on “Byzantine churches,” arguing that it implies that only Byzantium has a history in Cyprus. Erhürman stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side will not ignore the lack of recognition but will continue to highlight the need for a fair and comprehensive approach to the Cyprus issue. He emphasized that their stance is to “not ignore being ignored.” The politician states that the Turkish Cypriot side has systematically conveyed its positions to EU officials, calling for confidence-building measures and recognition of the “political dimension” of the Cyprus issue. He underlines that the Turkish Cypriot people have existed, exist, and will continue to exist in Cyprus, calling for determination and not questioning their position.