Türkiye seeks resolution to Cyprus issue and stronger ties with Greece, official says

Fahrettin Altun, Head of Communications of the Turkish Presidential Administration, has said that Türkiye does not want to spend another 60 years on the Cyprus problem.

Discussing the Cyprus island, Altun criticised the decades-long failure of UN-led negotiations for a “bi-zonal, bi-communal federation,” Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

"It is time to acknowledge the reality on the ground: the existence of two separate peoples and two separate states on the island of Cyprus. Neither Turkish Cypriots nor Türkiye are willing to waste another 60 years," he said.

Meanwhile, talking about relations between Türkiye and Greece, the Turkish head of Communications stressed the importance of strengthening these ties through mutual understanding, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange.

"Promoting mutual understanding, expanding trade opportunities, deepening people-to-people ties, and striving for shared prosperity will benefit everyone. By prioritising these goals, we can ensure that those who wish to disrupt progress and block the path to cooperation and peace are sidelined," he added.

Regarding fostering cultural collaboration, Altun highlighted Ankara’s support for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece and urged mutual respect regarding sensitive issues like the Aegean Sea and the Turkish minority in Greece.

"It would be beneficial for the Greek public to understand that the Aegean is not a Greek lake and that Türkiye, with its long coastline, shares this sea and has legitimate rights and vital interests in the region," he said, emphasising the need to resolve disputes peacefully under international law.

On the Turkish minority in Greece, the Turkish official also said: "The Turkish minority seeks the official recognition of their elected religious leaders and the freedom to express their ethnic identity without fear of legal or administrative repercussions, similar to the freedoms enjoyed by the Greek minority in Türkiye."

Altun concluded with a hopeful vision for bilateral relations: "When it comes to deepening relations with Greece, there are no limits for us."

By Khagan Isayev