Greek Cypriot FM Condemns Erdoğan’s Visit to the TRNC as 'Illegal'

Erdoğan’s statement that he has no intention of visiting the Republic of Cyprus during its EU Council presidency has also drawn sharp criticism from the south.

Greek Cypriot daily Fileleftheros reported that the Foreign Ministry described the visit as “a provocative act” and accused Erdoğan of “illegally entering occupied territory” to mark what it called “the sad anniversary of the Turkish invasion.” The ministry added that such visits violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, as recognized by the UN Security Council for over five decades.

President Erdoğan’s remarks were widely covered in the Greek Cypriot press. Responding to journalists' questions on his return flight from the north, Erdoğan stated he would not visit the south and reiterated Turkey’s recognition of the TRNC as a sovereign state. His emphasis on a two-state solution also drew condemnation from political circles in the south.

Fileleftheros ran the headline: “Erdoğan Not Coming – Says He Does Not Recognize the Republic of Cyprus by Recognizing the TRNC.”

Alithia framed its coverage as: “Success Story Collapses in 72 Hours – After the Hristodoulides-Fidan Meeting, Erdoğan Reverts to Two-State Rhetoric.”

Haravgi headlined: “Erdoğan Says a Visit to South Cyprus Is Out of the Question.”

In a separate statement reported by Haravgi, left-wing opposition party AKEL called Erdoğan’s participation in events marking the 1974 Turkish intervention “a crude provocation” to the people of Cyprus, who remember the consequences of that period with pain.

AKEL also rejected the notion of a two-state solution and the concept of sovereign equality, asserting that the Greek Cypriot people would never accept partition. The party insisted that lasting peace and security for both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots could only be achieved through the reunification of Cyprus and the end of what it described as occupation.