President Ersin Tatar has strongly condemned the statements made by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Archbishop Georgios during their Easter messages, describing them as damaging to any future dialogue and reflective of a deeply discriminatory and outdated mindset.

In a written statement, President ErsinTatar criticised the Greek Cypriot leader Christodoulides’ remarks, particularly his reference to a “strategy to tear down the wall of occupation,” calling it a veiled attempt to conceal the crimes and hegemonic ambitions directed at the Turkish Cypriot people.

“These are not messages of reconciliation, but rhetoric that targets the sovereignty of our people and seeks to revive failed approaches of the past,” he stated.

Tatar also condemned the Archbishop’s remarks, accusing him of spreading a message of hatred under the guise of religion.

“Statements such as ‘cruel Turk’ and talk of expelling Turks reveal the dangerous levels of hate and discrimination. This rhetoric should alarm not only us, but also the reasonable segments of the Greek Cypriot public,” he added.

The President reaffirmed that the Turkish Cypriot side has long pursued reconciliation despite immense difficulties. However, he warned that no one should expect the Turkish Cypriots to compromise on their state, sovereignty, or dignity.

“The TRNC is a legitimate and permanent state, founded by the free will of our people. Its existence and our will are not up for negotiation,” Tatar said.

He reiterated that a just, realistic, and lasting settlement in Cyprus is only possible through a model based on sovereign equality and equal international status, founded on cooperation between two states.

“The Greek Cypriot leadership’s drive for domination has now been exposed. The international community must take note of this aggressive and exclusionary mindset and seriously consider the Turkish Cypriot side’s vision for compromise,” he added.

President Tatar concluded with a warning to those remaining silent in the face of such rhetoric: “These statements are not just an attack on our rights — they are a direct threat to our very existence. What is being packaged as ‘solution’ is, in fact, an effort to erase our identity and equality. The Turkish Cypriot people are resolute. Reconciliation in Cyprus can only be built on equality, trust, and mutual respect.”