Türkiye’s army plays vital role in Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot president
The presence of Turkish soldiers and the Turkish Armed Forces on Cyprus island is of “vital importance to us as a deterrent force,” the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar said Friday.
The comments came at a joint news conference following his meeting with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz in Nicosia.
Tatar noted that alternatives were discussed in the energy planning of the TRNC, as he emphasized the importance of evaluating different perspectives to find comprehensive solutions.
He stressed strengthening economic ties with mainland Türkiye and called the planned underwater bi-directional cable system – connecting TRNC to Türkiye and potentially the EU – a vital future investment.
He noted that Greek Cyprus is considering a cable to Greece, which is costly and challenging, whereas connecting via Türkiye is more feasible.
Tatar highlighted the significance of Türkiye’s support for a two-state solution, the importance of peace and security on the island and the need for an effective resolution of property issues through the Immovable Property Commission.
He expressed hope for improvement in economic cooperation and TRNC’s growth as a regional hub with Türkiye’s support.
Tatar emphasized that Turkish Cyprus, as an independent Turkish state and an observer member of the Turkic Council, wants to become a star of the Eastern Mediterranean, with no obstacles in sight.
He thanked Türkiye for its continued support despite isolation and embargoes.
Background
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Türkiye, acting as a guarantor power, initiated the Cyprus Peace Operation in response to a coup attempting to annex the island to Greece. The intervention aimed to protect Turkish Cypriots from violence and persecution.
The TRNC was established on Nov. 15, 1983. While violence has ceased since then, tensions persist, particularly over control of the island’s offshore economic zone, with Türkiye claiming over 40% following natural gas discoveries.
Türkiye does not recognize the Greek Cypriot administration and maintains around 35,000 troops in the TRNC.
Peace efforts have been sporadic, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland led by guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece and the U.K.
In 2004, the Greek Cypriot administration joined the European Union, but only the southern part enjoyed full membership benefits after rejecting a U.N. plan to resolve the conflict.
