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Several senior government officials have lashed out at Mustafa Akıncı, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), over his comments on the Cyprus issue in an interview on Thursday (February 6).
Akıncı talked to the Guardian about the long-standing reunification efforts in Cyprus island.
"If this failed to happen, he said, the north would grow increasingly dependent on Ankara and could end up being swallowed up, as a de facto Turkish province," the Guardian cited Akıncı as saying.
The prospect of Crimea-style annexation was "horrible" and against Turkey's own interests, Akıncı further said in the interview.
Reactions from the government
His remarks drew a rebuke from high-level officials as Vice President Fuat Oktay tweeted, "I condemn the remarks that target the Republic of Turkey which stands with TRNC in all conditions and protect its rights and interests."
It will not be tolerated to use Turkey as "a tool of the election campaign" with political approaches lack of vision, he said.
Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said in a written statement that Akıncı does not deserve to sit on the chair of the presidency, which had cost "the lives of Turkish Cypriots and Turkish soldiers."
"Turkey has no designs on the soil of any country and it will not tolerate Turkish soil being made benefits available to anybody," he stated.
Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül also criticized Akıncı's remarks, which he said hurt the "ancestors and martyrs."
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli asked Akıncı to resign him from office.
TRNC Prime Minister Ersin Tatar joined government officials in condemning Akıncı's remarks. "That Akıncı criticizes Turkey via claims not existing is a wrong behavior with the aim of winning the election," he said in a written statement.
Tatar said "Turkish Cypriots will punish Akıncı" by not voting in favor of him in the presidential election slated for on April 26.
Akıncı's response
In response to criticism, Akıncı said that the people of Northern Cyprus does not embrace the possibility of the annexation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey.
"People are yearning for a structure that is self-governing, self-sufficient and has a real say in their institutions. Of course, there is no doubt that there are things we need to accomplish especially in the economy and other fields. Our society never embraces the possibility of annexation. As a leader chosen by such people, what could be the answer I gave to the question asked in relation to Crimea?
"Yes, I stated that an annexation scenario similar to Crimea would be terrible and that this wouldn't be a development in favor of Turkey as well as of Cyprus Turks. This is the scenario that will eliminate the TRNC. I stand by my words, which I didn't say for the first time."
Saying that there are different communities living in Cyprus, the quest for a federal order where different communities will live together in peace continues.
Decades since the foundation of the TRNC in 1983 have seen several attempts to resolve the Cyprus dispute, all ending in failure. The latest, held with the participation of the guarantor countries, Turkey, Greece, and the UK, came to an end without any progress in 2017 in Switzerland. (TP/VK)
