Northern Cyprus rules out a new joint solution with Greek Cypriots
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has sent a clear signal regarding the future of Cyprus.
Speaking on Thursday, 1 October 2026, he stated that a federation or any new partnership model with the Greek Cypriots is no longer on the agenda.
Ertuğruloğlu emphasised that the TRNC remains committed to its policy of two sovereign and equal states with equivalent international status on Cyprus, a position that stands in direct contrast to international peace efforts. This statement reinforces the Turkish Cypriot administration' s rejection of unification solutions, which have long formed the basis of the UN’s negotiating framework for Cyprus.
This also contradicts the position held by Greece, the European Union, and the Greek Cypriot authorities in the Republic of Cyprus, all of whom continue to support the reunification of the island through a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Ertuğruloğlu’s comments are not merely rhetorical; they reflect a marked shift in Turkish Cypriot and Turkish policy concerning the Cyprus issue.
While previous rounds of negotiations, including the 2004 Annan Plan, aimed at federal consolidation, Ankara and Northern Cyprus have increasingly advocated for a two-state solution in recent years.
This approach, which demands international recognition of the TRNC as an independent state, is presented as the only realistic way forward following decades of failed federalist attempts. The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister was categorical in his rejection, stating, " There is no alternative for establishing a new partnership with the Greek Cypriots." This effectively removes the foundation for further talks based on a federal model and puts an end to many of the diplomatic initiatives that have sought to bridge the gap between the two communities since the island’s division in 1974.
The strong rhetoric from Northern Cyprus intensifies the diplomatic deadlock surrounding the Cyprus issue.
The UN and the EU maintain their position that a federal solution is the only viable path for a reunified island, in accordance with Security Council resolutions.
A consistent refusal of federation by the Turkish Cypriot side, supported by Turkey, will likely result in a continued lack of progress in the frozen peace negotiations and could cement the division of the island indefinitely. International stakeholders must now consider the implications of this resolute two-state policy for regional stability and future diplomatic avenues.
Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu’s statement indicates that any future dialogue must commence with the recognition of two separate states as a starting point, a premise that remains unacceptable to both the Republic of Cyprus and the majority of the international community.
Source: Star
