Prime Minister Ünal Üstel described the Easter message of the Greek Orthodox Church’s Archbishop as more than just a religious statement, calling it a clear expression of a deeply rooted political mindset, ethnic exclusion and an aggressive rhetoric that disregards historical realities.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has strongly condemned the remarks made by Archbishop Georgios of the Greek Orthodox Church, describing them as hateful and targeting the Turkish Cypriot people.
Üstel stated that the Archbishop’s message goes beyond a religious declaration, characterizing it as a clear reflection of a deeply rooted political mindset, ethnic exclusion and an aggressive rhetoric that disregards historical facts.
Highlighting the use of expressions such as “cruel Turks,” “occupying Turks,” “expelling the Turks,” and “land of our ancestors,” the Prime Minister described the statement as an explicit example of hate speech directed at the legitimate existence of the Turkish Cypriot people.
“This approach, which ignores the massacres, forced displacements and systematic oppression faced by Turkish Cypriots between 1963 and 1974, has once again revealed the insincerity behind claims of peace, reconciliation, and coexistence,” Üstel said.
He further emphasized that the Greek Cypriot leadership and religious authorities speaking the same language and attempting to revive the failed approaches of the past—while acting with a mindset that views the entire island as exclusively theirs—severely damages the foundation for a peaceful resolution.
“We state this clearly: the Turkish Cypriot people do not give any credit to these arrogant, threatening statements or condescending attitudes. No one should expect us to abandon our homeland — which is also the land of our ancestors — our sovereignty, our honor, or our state.
We strongly condemn this mindset, which is filled with hatred, rage, and discrimination against Turks and is cloaked in a language that has no place in genuine peace” said Üstel.
He continued to state that the Turkish Cypriot people stand for a solution, for peace, and for a just compromise.
“However, this will, can only find expression through constructive dialogue based on mutual respect and equality — not through the language of threats” said Üstel and added that it should not be forgotten that defeats suffered by those who once tried to uproot Turkish Cypriots from this island are still written in the pages of history.
“The Turkish Cypriot people are a nation that honors its language, religion, roots, customs, traditions and proud past; that it has defended its land, founded a state on it, and has never relinquished its sovereignty.
Those who dare to test the patience of this people must know that they will face the unwavering determination and unshakable will of our nation’s struggle” concluded Üstel.