Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu criticized the recent meeting between US President Joe Biden and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, as he said nobody can ignore the existence and rights of Turkish Cypriots.

“No power can disregard the homeland Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriot people’s existence and rights in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” the foreign minister said.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu noted that the US support for the Greek Cypriot administration, under the guise of “strategic partnership,” threatens the delicate balances in the region.

He said Washington attempts to intimidate the Turkish side by saying it would provide more support for the Greek Cypriot administration if the TRNC does not support federation-based discussions.

He also said the Greek Cypriots exploit US support, and have started seeing themselves as an actor that can replace Türkiye in the region.

“The US needs to immediately stop encouraging such impudency,” Ertuğruloğlu said, as he criticized the US and the global community for seeing Greek Cypriots as the sole legal representative of the island.

Highlighting that the TRNC is the only legal representative of the Turkish people on the island of Cyprus, Ertuğruloğlu called on the international community to see the realities and realize that the only option for the future is a two-state solution based on neighborly relations.