Erhürman tempers expectations ahead of leaders’ meeting
Ahead of Thursday’s first contact between the island’s leaders, President Erhürman met political party heads, underlining that no major outcome should be expected from what he described as an introductory exchange.
Tuesday’s meeting included: Ünal Üstel, Prime Minister and Leader of the National Unity Party (UBP); Erkut Şahali, Acting leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP); Fikri Ataoğlu, Leader of the Democrat Party (DP); Erhan Arıklı, Leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP); Kudret Özersay, Leader of the People’s Party (HP); and Zeki Çeler, Leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP).
Speaking to reporters after the two-hour meeting, President Erhürman reminded the public that the formation of the Council of Political Parties was part of his campaign promise under the theme of “governing together,” and this marked the Council’s first official meeting.
Erhürman noted that all political parties with over three percent of the vote were invited, and that he would meet periodically with parties below this threshold as well.
He also stated that these Council meetings will be routine, especially before and, if necessary, after developments concerning the Cyprus problem to ensure both information and assessment processes are active.
Addressing questions from reporters, President Erhürman described Thursday’s one-hour meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader as a mere introductory meeting, stressing that expectations should not be set too high.
“I believe it would be a surprise to get a result from this meeting,” Erhürman said.
“This is a meeting where initial positions will be mutually presented. Ms. Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar will meet with me on December 5th and with Mr. Christodoulides on December 6th. There might be a greater chance for progress during that period. This is an introductory meeting before that.”
President Erhürman reiterated that his most crucial expectation from this and the subsequent initial meetings is the creation of an “atmosphere for a solution.”
He emphasized that steps to ease the daily lives of both communities are key to generating this atmosphere.
“Our wish and our effort will be in the direction of implementing these [confidence-building measures] in the first stage. But, of course, the fundamental goal is to reach a comprehensive, just, and permanent solution to the Cyprus problem,” he affirmed.
Erhürman also suggested that achieving a stable solution in Cyprus has the potential to create similar positive effects in the wider region. “Our concern is neither to defeat one nor to usurp the rights of one. We have no designs on anyone’s rights, but protecting our own rights is our most fundamental duty,” he concluded.
Responding to a question about Turkiye’s role, Erhürman said that a supportive attitude is already in place. “The Republic of Türkiye has in no way adopted an approach against sitting at the table. Therefore, I can easily say that an atmosphere conducive to setting up the table currently exists, both following my visit to Ankara and the visits of Turkish officials here for November 15th.”
