Cyprus Times

Ustel Accuses President Christodoulides of 'Policy of Exclusion of Turkish Cypriots'

Published January 2, 2026, 15:09
Ustel Accuses President Christodoulides of 'Policy of Exclusion of Turkish Cypriots'

The 'prime minister' of the occupied territories, Unal Ustel, accused the Greek Cypriot side of continuing a 'policy of excluding Turkish Cypriots'. He claimed that President Christodoulides' reference to 'reconstruction and modernization' of the Republic of Cyprus constitutes an admission of this policy, as well as 'unilateral violations' of the Constitution. Ustel characterized the Republic of Cyprus as a structure 'usurped' by the Greek Cypriot side and argued that its continuation through reforms leads to a deadlock. He reiterated the position for a two-state solution with 'sovereign equality', believing that the federal solution has failed after Cran Montana. At the same time, he strongly criticized the EU, accusing it of losing neutrality and describing the linking of EU-Turkey relations to the Cyprus issue as 'unacceptable'. Ustel warned that the pseudo-state will not support any initiative by a European envoy unless they demonstrate a 'fair attitude'. He also criticized the defense cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus, arguing that it exacerbates tension rather than peace. Finally, Ustel reiterated Turkey's position on maintaining guarantees, considering them necessary for the protection of Turkish Cypriots. This statement indicates the disagreement between the two sides and the difficulty of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.