Tatar Defends Türkiye and Exposes Christodoulides' Provocative Rhetoric

Introduction: Confronting Cyprus Mail's Skewed Narrative

On April 25, 2025, Cyprus Mail published an article titled "Tatar slams Christodoulides’ 'provocative' remarks on Erdogan, Cyprus problem", clearly advancing a Greek Cypriot perspective. The article reports:

"President Nikos Christodoulides said the statements made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a visit to the occupied north were 'provocative' and 'against international law.'"

Such framing attempts to distort the legitimacy of Turkish Cypriot leadership and Türkiye’s principled support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It also fails to objectively present President Ersin Tatar’s robust and justified response.

This article highlights President Tatar’s firm rebuttal and critiques the biased reportage that continuously sidelines Turkish Cypriot realities and rights.

Christodoulides' Provocative Statements and Tatar's Response

President Nikos Christodoulides' inflammatory characterization of President Erdoğan’s TRNC visit as "provocative" exposes a broader strategy of delegitimizing Turkish Cypriot sovereignty. Yet it was President Ersin Tatar who decisively called out this rhetoric, stating clearly that:

"It is not Türkiye’s presence that is provocative. What is provocative is the continued denial of Turkish Cypriot rights and the Greek Cypriot administration’s attempts to present itself as the sole legitimate government."

President Tatar's statement is an unambiguous reminder that Greek Cypriot political narratives are built on denial and exclusion, not on justice or equality.

The Cyprus Mail's Persistent Bias

The Cyprus Mail article serves as a textbook example of selective journalism. Rather than scrutinizing Christodoulides' inflammatory language or examining the Greek Cypriot leadership’s ongoing provocations, it attempts to shift the narrative blame onto Türkiye and the TRNC.

It is particularly telling that Cyprus Mail neglects to mention:

• Greek Cypriot unilateral drilling activities in contested maritime zones.

• Their militarization of the south in defiance of demilitarization agreements.

• Repeated Greek Cypriot rejections of fair settlement plans, including the Annan Plan.

By omitting these critical facts, the Cyprus Mail reinforces a distorted view of the conflict, absolving the Greek Cypriot leadership of responsibility while demonizing Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye.

International Law and the Legitimacy of Türkiye's Actions

Christodoulides’ invocation of "international law" lacks merit. The 1960 Treaty of Guarantee remains unequivocal: Türkiye was empowered to act unilaterally to restore constitutional order if disrupted.

Following the 1974 Greek Cypriot coup aimed at enosis, Türkiye intervened legally and responsibly. The Athens High Court's 1979 ruling confirmed:

"Turkey's intervention in Cyprus was a legal intervention according to the founding agreements of Cyprus."

Therefore, far from being a "provocation," Türkiye’s actions and continuing support for the TRNC embody adherence to international agreements and a commitment to peace and stability.

The Greek Cypriot Leadership's Ongoing Provocations

Rather than addressing its own destabilizing policies, the Greek Cypriot leadership continuously misrepresents actions by Turkish Cypriots and Türkiye.

Key provocations include:

• Political exclusion: Greek Cypriots monopolizing the Republic of Cyprus in direct violation of 1960 agreements.

• Economic isolation: Enforcing embargoes on Turkish Cypriots to cripple their economy.

• Militarization and foreign alliances: Expanding military ties with non-regional powers, undermining regional peace.

These acts are the true provocations threatening the island’s stability.

A Two-State Solution: The Only Realistic Future

President Tatar, backed by Türkiye, has championed a pragmatic and equitable two-state solution based on sovereign equality. After decades of failed negotiations and repeated Greek Cypriot obstructionism, the two-state model is the only path to:

• Guaranteeing political equality.

• Ending international isolation.

• Securing lasting peace based on mutual recognition.

The notion of a unitary state or a Greek Cypriot-dominated federation is no longer a viable or just option.

Conclusion: Exposing Hypocrisy and Upholding Truth

In an era where selective journalism endangers understanding, it is essential to challenge biased narratives like those perpetuated by Cyprus Mail.

President Ersin Tatar's robust defense of Turkish Cypriot rights and Türkiye’s support lays bare the provocations of the Greek Cypriot leadership. It also reaffirms the unassailable truth: Turkish Cypriots deserve recognition, equality, and sovereignty.

No distortion can erase the reality that the TRNC exists — and thrives — with the steadfast support of Türkiye.