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Yilmaz Insists on 'Sovereign Equality' - Erhurman: Political Equality

Published January 16, 2026, 13:16
Yilmaz Insists on 'Sovereign Equality' - Erhurman: Political Equality

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz reiterated Turkey's position on 'sovereign equality' in Cyprus, while Turkish Cypriot leader Erhurman stated that his presence at the negotiating table does not imply relinquishing political equality. These statements were made after a meeting between the two men in the occupied territories. Erhurman emphasized the uniqueness of the Turkey-pseudo-state relationship and underlined that Turkish Cypriots have equal sovereign rights as one of the two founding partners of the island. He also expressed opposition to approaches related to the Cypriot Presidency in the EU, describing them as "unacceptable". For his part, Yilmaz argued that the sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots is non-negotiable and that there are "two separate states and two separate peoples" on the island. He accused the Greek Cypriot side of lacking willingness to cooperate and defended the presence of the Turkish army in the occupied territories as a factor of stability and security. This meeting highlights the disagreements between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots regarding the future of Cyprus, with Ankara insisting on the recognition of two states, while the Turkish Cypriot side maintains a more flexible position, at least rhetorically, regarding political equality.