Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides publicly called Erdogan the "great obstacle" to resolving the Cyprus problem, ac...

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides publicly called Erdogan the "great obstacle" to resolving the Cyprus problem, accusing Turkey of adopting a "new Ottoman approach" to the region in an interview with Breitbart. Christodoulides said he was present in the hall when Erdogan addressed the UN General Assembly last month and felt compelled to respond. He described Erdogan's speech as "hypocrisy of the highest form," pointing out that Erdogan cited the UN charter and international law while Turkey does the exact opposite in Cyprus. "Turkey is questioning international law. Turkey has issues with all neighbouring countries, and we have Mr Erdogan coming to New York and presenting himself as the UN secretary-general that will protect humanity," Christodoulides said. The Cypriot president argued that Turkey's self-portrayal as the protector of the Arab and Muslim world rings hollow, noting that even Arab countries don't see Turkey in that role. He also stressed that Cyprus is not isolated, listing Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the United States, and India as likeminded partners working together in the region. Erdogan used his UN address to call on the international community to recognize the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and grant it political and diplomatic status, framing the Turkish Cypriot community as victims of "inhumane isolation." Christodoulides rejected that framing outright, saying Turkey's insistence on a two-state solution places it outside the UN framework entirely. He described Turkey as the only country in the region refusing to participate in the emerging regional alliance, attributing that to Erdogan's actions and Turkey's repeated violations of neighboring countries' sovereignty. UN Cyprus envoy Maria Angela Holguin added a separate warning last month, saying the "favourable window of opportunity" for progress on Cyprus is "gradually closing" and that rising tensions across the eastern Mediterranean could further complicate any path to resumed negotiations. #Cyprus #Erdogan #CyprusProblem