Politicians from both communities in Cyprus must take seriously into consideration the fact that Turkish Cypriots are citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, President Demetris Christofias has said.

He also said that Turkish Cypriots are very disappointed with Ankara’s policy to change the demographic character of the island’s northern Turkish occupied areas.

The President pointed out that the current deadlock in the Cyprus problem is due to the insistence of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership on a settlement providing for two separate states in Cyprus

Addressing a delegation of the Court of Justice of the European Union, headed by its President, Christofias said that small EU member states are supported by European law and the Court of the EU in their effort to address condemnable threats, such as those against the sovereignty of Cyprus.

He said that during the negotiations on a Cyprus settlement “we rely very much on the case law of the Court”, noting his satisfaction that the Court and the European Commission believe that there must be a single state with a single sovereignty, citizenship and a single international personality, as stipulated by UN Security Council resolutions.

He also said that the settlement of the Cyprus problem must lead to the substantial participation of both communities in state affairs.

He rejected a two-state solution, pointing out that there is one state, that of the Republic of Cyprus and a secessionist entity in Turkish occupied Cyprus which cannot be accepted.

Unfortunately, he went on, the Cyprus problem is currently at a deadlock due to the insistence of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership on two states in Cyprus with a loose connection.  

Christofias noted that Turkish Cypriots are disappointed with Turkey’s policy to bring illegally thousands of Turks to Cyprus’ occupied areas, changing the demographic character of the Turkish Cypriot community and that of Cyprus.

“I am very well aware of the fact that the Turkish Cypriots are really afraid that they might lose their Cypriot identity. Turkish Cypriots are Cypriots with their own Cypriot conscience and beliefs as regards religion, which are much more liberal than those of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Abdullah Gul,” the President said.

He said it is important for the Greek Cypriot community and its political leadership to understand and accept the Turkish Cypriots and their differences, and see them on an equal par with the Greek Cypriots.