Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said that the Greek Cypriots have been struggling with disinformation since the 1960s.

Ertuğruloğlu said, “If there is a country that has done the greatest injustice to the Turkish Cypriot people since day one, it is the UK” and added that although the UK is one of the guarantor countries on the island, it has never fulfilled its requirements.

He emphasized that Türkiye is the greatest factor in the continuation of the peace environment on the island.

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu spoke to NTV within the framework of the International Strategic Communication Forum 24 organized by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye took part in the TRT Documentary Days and participated in the podcast broadcast within the scope of the summit.

During an interview with NTV, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu criticized the United Kingdom for its treatment of the Turkish Cypriot people.

He stated that the UK, as one of the guarantor countries in Cyprus, has failed to fulfill its obligations and has allowed the Greek Cypriots to be recognized as the Republic of Cyprus by breaking the partnership.

Ertuğruloğlu also expressed his dissatisfaction with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for not visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during his visit to the Greek Cypriot side, suggesting that this undermines Britain’s position as a guarantor country.

Regarding the United States deployment to South Cyprus, the lifting of the arms embargo, and the provision of training to the Greek Cypriot National Guard Army, Ertuğruloğlu expressed hope that South Cyprus would not misuse the American support and engage in provocative actions.

He emphasized that Türkiye is the key player in maintaining peace on the island.

Meanwhile Ertuğruloğlu also stressed the importance of strategic communication and media in shaping public opinion.

He expressed the desire for personnel from the TRNC’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, TAK news agency and BRT broadcaster to benefit from the experiences in Türkiye.

Ertuğruloğlu highlighted that the Cyprus problem did not begin in 1974, as claimed by the Greek Cypriots but rather in 1964 when United Nations troops arrived on the island.

He added that the Turkish Cypriots have been fighting against disinformation created by the Greek Cypriots and the international community since the 1960s.

Discussing the embargoes faced by the Turkish Cypriots despite their innocence, Ertuğruloğlu stated that they tried to prevent Cyprus from becoming a Greek Cypriot state, and if that was a mistake, they are proud of it.

He also visited Istanbul Fişekhane, where the 15th “TRT International Documentary Awards” were held, and expressed gratitude to TRT for their documentaries on Cyprus, particularly the Erenköy Resistance.

During his visit to Istanbul, Ertuğruloğlu was accompanied by BRT Chairman Özdemir Tokel, BRT Director Meryem Özkurt, Director of TAK Fehmi Gürdallı, and Cihangir Şahin, the Press Counselor of the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa.