Home » Turkish Cypriots Elect Tufan Erhurman, Renewing Hopes for Cyprus Peace Talks

Turkish Cypriots Elect Tufan Erhurman, Renewing Hopes for Cyprus Peace Talks

written by Sathish Raman Source

Tufan Erhurman has been elected as the new leader of Turkish Cypriots, promising to revive peace talks with Greek Cypriots and address the long-standing ethnic division in Cyprus. His victory marks a shift from the previous administration's stance.

International

-Sathish Raman

Time

Turkish Cypriots have elected Tufan Erhurman as their new leader, raising hopes for renewed peace talks to resolve Cyprus's long-standing ethnic division. Erhurman, who supports a two-zone federation with Greek Cypriots, won decisively with 62.76% of the vote, surpassing incumbent Ersin Tatar's 35.81%, according to unofficial results from BRT TV. Voter turnout was nearly 65% of the 218,000 registered voters.

New Leader Elected in Turkish Cyprus
Representative image

Tufan Erhurman has been elected as the new leader of Turkish Cypriots, promising to revive peace talks with Greek Cypriots and address the long-standing ethnic division in Cyprus. His victory marks a shift from the previous administration's stance.

At a victory rally, Erhurman declared the election a win for all Turkish Cypriots, regardless of political affiliation. He emphasised that any progress in Cyprus peace efforts would involve consultation with Turkey, as has been customary. Turkish Cypriots have moved away from Tatar's vision of a two-state solution for Cyprus, which Turkey has supported since 2017 when previous negotiations collapsed.

Challenges and Opportunities in Cyprus Peace Talks

Despite the positive election outcome for UN-backed peace efforts, significant obstacles remain. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his support for a two-state solution during a recent General Assembly address. Erdogan congratulated Erhurman and affirmed Turkey's commitment to defending Turkish Cypriots' sovereign rights and interests.

Erhurman has criticised Tatar's reluctance to engage in formal peace talks during his five-year tenure, viewing it as a costly delay that distanced Turkish Cypriots from the European Union and pushed them further into international isolation. Nikos Christodoulides, the Greek Cypriot president, expressed eagerness to meet Erhurman soon and reiterated his willingness to resume peace discussions.

Historical Context and Current Stakes

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by Greek junta-backed supporters seeking union with Greece. Only Turkey recognises the 1983 Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence and maintains over 35,000 troops in the north. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, but only the Greek Cypriot south benefits fully from membership.

A peace agreement could unlock significant opportunities, such as exploiting natural gas deposits off Cyprus's southern coast to benefit Egypt and Europe. It might also resolve Turkish objections to an electricity cable project linking Greece and Cyprus, with potential extension to Israel's power grid.

Security Concerns and Political Dynamics

Erhurman has dismissed claims that he would seek to abolish Turkey's military intervention rights under any peace deal. Greek Cypriots view these rights as a security threat. The 2017 talks faltered due to Turkey's insistence on retaining intervention rights and troops on the island indefinitely.

While Turkish Cypriots see Turkey's military presence as essential for their protection, Greek Cypriots perceive it as Ankara's means of controlling the island. Erhurman insists on political equality for Turkish Cypriots, though interpretations differ between communities. Greek Cypriots argue that minority veto powers over federal decisions are unfair.

The new leader asserts that Turkish Cypriots should not suffer if talks fail again, suggesting direct international engagement with the north through air connectivity and trade if negotiations collapse. Greek Cypriots argue this condition could discourage efforts for a fair agreement.

With inputs from PTI

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written by Sathish Raman Source

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