Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday, as part of a trip to Turkey ahead of this weekend's Antalya diplomacy forum.
Second Visit to Ankara Since Election
The meeting marks Erhurman's second visit to the Turkish capital since he was elected as Turkish Cypriot leader last October. Neither side issued a public statement following the conclusion of their discussions.
The two leaders previously met in November, after which Erhurman spoke publicly about the state of efforts to resolve the longstanding Cyprus problem.
Erhurman's Position on a Settlement
Following that earlier meeting, Erhurman outlined the Turkish Cypriot stance, saying both sides had demonstrated a clear desire for progress.
"Both the TRNC's demonstrated will and Turkey's unequivocal determination to seek a solution are clear. Despite this, we face a problem which has remained unsolved for years. A solution to this problem can only be achieved through the shared will of this island's two constituent peoples."
He also stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side was seeking a genuine settlement rather than open-ended negotiations without guarantees.
"No one should perceive the will of the Turkish Cypriot people for a solution as a will to sit at the table with a method which is not time-bound, is not result-orientated, and does not guarantee from the outset that there will be no return to the status quo if the Greek Cypriot leadership once again flips the table at the last minute."
Further Meetings Expected
Beyond his meeting with Erdogan, Erhurman is also expected to hold talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his time in Turkey this weekend, on the sidelines of the Antalya diplomacy forum.
The visit underscores the continued engagement between Nicosia's Turkish Cypriot administration and Ankara, as diplomatic activity around the Cyprus issue remains in focus.
