Üstel criticizes EU after summit: TRNC insists on 'two-state' solution

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has sharply criticized the European Union's stance on the Cyprus issue following an informal summit held in the Republic of Cyprus.

According to him, the outcome of the meeting confirmed the EU's "biased and unfair approach," which he claims has persisted for many years. Üstel recalled the 2004 Annan Plan referendum, stating that Turkish Cypriots, who supported the initiative, "were punished," while the Greek Cypriot side, which rejected the plan, was granted EU membership.

The Prime Minister also noted that the promises made to the Turkish Cypriot side at that time, including the lifting of isolation, have never been fulfilled.

He paid particular attention to the actions of President Nikos Christodoulides, accusing him of attempting to invoke EU Article 42.7 to strengthen military presence and form a political bloc against Turkey and the TRNC.

The official stated that tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, in his opinion, are not related to Turkey but to the policies of the Greek Cypriot side, including rearmament and the conclusion of military agreements with foreign states.

He emphasized that the Turkish Cypriot side will not abandon the principles of sovereign equality and security, and reaffirmed the course towards settling the conflict based on a two-state model with the support of Turkey.

According to the Prime Minister, the TRNC government intends to continue promoting this position on the international stage despite external pressure.