Erhürman: “Turkish Cypriot Will for a Solution Must Be at the Table”

Speaking to BRT, Erhürman stressed that the ongoing legal challenges over property ownership cannot be resolved through legal maneuvers alone, but instead require political intervention and diplomacy.

“We’ve Been Warning About This for Three Years”

Highlighting long-standing warnings by the CTP regarding the risks of mishandling property issues, Erhürman stated: “We have repeatedly warned that this matter will bring major trouble, both internally and externally.” He recalled President Ersin Tatar’s earlier statement — “Go ahead, don’t be afraid, the state is behind you” — and pointed to the consequences of such rhetoric, particularly in light of the lawsuits currently unfolding in South Cyprus.

According to Erhürman, the law being applied in the South now threatens not only specific individuals but the broader Turkish Cypriot community, with even TRNC citizens becoming subjects of compensation claims in courts across the divide.

“Those Responsible Cannot Act as if They Are Not”

Erhürman sharply criticised the authorities for failing to act preemptively, despite years of warnings. He stated that the Greek Cypriot lawsuits were predictable, and urged that counterclaims should have been raised much earlier—not out of retaliation, but to make visible the losses suffered by Turkish Cypriots who left property in the South.

Now, he said, calls for counter-lawsuits face delays in Southern courts and the daunting timeline of eventually having to take cases to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. “Those who allowed the issue to escalate to this point cannot pretend they are not responsible,” he said.

TMK: A Missed Opportunity

Erhürman described the establishment of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in 2005 as one of the most significant developments on the issue. The commission was built upon the international recognition of the Turkish Cypriot side's will for a solution, demonstrated by the 2004 referendum, in which Turkish Cypriots overwhelmingly voted “yes” to a UN-backed reunification plan.

He criticised those who now advocate for the IPC despite previously opposing it, noting: “Back then, some tried to have it overturned by the Constitutional Court—now they defend it the most.”

“Law Has Become a Political Tool”

Erhürman underlined the legal anomaly of Turkish Cypriots facing prosecution in the South for acts that are legal in the North: “The current situation is that I live in the North and follow the law here, but by doing so I am considered to be violating Southern law. This needs to be shown to the world.”

He accused Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides of weaponising legal tools for political purposes, adding that this must be met with a political—not merely legal—response from the Turkish Cypriot side.

“This Is No Longer Just About Property”

The CTP leader warned that the construction sector, once promoted as a leading industry in the North, is now dragging the system into turbulence. He argued that construction should never have become a primary economic driver on the island, and that sectors such as tourism and higher education are now also at risk due to reckless policymaking.

He added that there are ongoing attempts to undermine tourism, and said the issue has evolved beyond property disputes alone.

“The Current Path Ends at a Dead End”

Erhürman criticised the so-called ‘Sarayönü policy’ (a reference to short-sighted, populist decision-making), stating that it has reached its limits. Referring to the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as an example, he argued that pursuing a two-state solution while experiencing diplomatic setbacks shows the failure of current strategies.

He urged a return to diplomacy and a reevaluation of priorities, with a renewed focus on tourism and sustainable sectors.

“We Are the Side That Wants a Solution—That Must Be Clear”

“Our strongest argument has always been that we are the side that wants a solution,” Erhürman said. “But right now, that image is being lost, and that puts us in serious jeopardy.”

Reaffirming that property is one of the six core issues in comprehensive peace talks, he concluded: “Law is a lever to make things visible, but you have to explain your position to the world—and to do that, you must engage with the world.”