Senior Turkish Cypriot officials are strongly against a new agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and Lebanon. They say it ignores their community and hurts the chances for a united Cyprus. A well-known politician, Tufan Erhurman, explained this criticism. He said it shows the big problem about who represents the island internationally.
Erhurman used social media to criticize the pact. He said the Greek Cypriot leadership often makes decisions for the whole island by itself. He stated that it is not fair to expect Turkish Cypriots to wait without any international contact. He also said that such actions by one side do not help create peace or stability. He believes Turkish Cypriots are one of "two equal owners" of the island. In response, Erhurman plans to speak with groups like the European Union to share their concerns. Greek Cypriot media have criticized him for this plan.
This argument comes from the island's long division. Since 1974, Cyprus has been split in two. The southern Republic of Cyprus is recognized by most of the world. The northern part, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is only recognized by Turkey. A major problem in reunification talks is who can make international agreements. Turkish Cypriots feel that deals made by the south on issues that affect the north are not legal without their agreement.
At the same time, a different problem happened inside the TRNC. The Deputy Prime Minister, Fikri Ataoğlu, had to explain some comments he made about property investment. He first said the government preferred citizens from Turkey to buy property, not people from other countries. Later, he clarified that they are not against foreigners buying houses or investing. He said the main goal is to build a strong center for tourism and investment that is open to sustainable money.
Together, these events show a community dealing with a difficult political situation. Erhurman talks about a "new era" where Turkish Cypriots will actively look for a solution where they are treated as equals. The TRNC government also has to balance its close relationship with Turkey and its need for more international connections. The Lebanon agreement is not a single event, but a sign of the ongoing problems on the divided island.