Kudret Ozersay highlights policy divergence between Ankara and Tufan Erhurman on Cyprus

Kudret Ozersay, leader of the People's Party (HP) and former negotiator, stated that there are significant policy differences between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side regarding a potential new round of negotiations. Ozersay specifically pointed to a gap between the federal solution model suggested by Tufan Erhurman and the two-state solution policy officially supported by Ankara. He warned that any potential 5+1 conference could expose these internal contradictions, which he believes the Turkish Cypriot side must handle with caution. Ozersay also suggested that Turkey might stall or block negotiation processes it deems performative, citing recent remarks by the Turkish President concerning military cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and France. He emphasized that the Cyprus issue cannot be viewed solely as a local conflict, noting that Turkey, Greece, and the current international geopolitical climate remain decisive factors. He concluded that Turkish Cypriots must carefully evaluate their future strategic steps to avoid diplomatic friction with Turkey.