Defense minister raises two-state solution in Cyprus dispute

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has advocated for a two-state solution as the only viable resolution to the longstanding conflict on the divided island of Cyprus.

"From now on, the only and definitive solution is based on the fact that there are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island, as the international public opinion has begun to express clearly," Güler said in an address during a parliamentary session late on Dec. 13.

Ankara considers finding a swift resolution to the dispute over the eastern Mediterranean island a top priority, according to Güler. The solution must respect the rights and security of Turkish Cypriots, he added.

The island has been embroiled in a protracted dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, with various diplomatic efforts failing to yield a comprehensive settlement.

The most recent initiative in 2017, under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece and the U.K., did not result in a resolution. The Greek Cypriot administration has been an EU member since 2004, while the northern part is recognized only by Ankara.

A buffer zone under U.N. control separates Turkish Cyprus from the rest of the island, dividing Nicosia, the capital shared by both sides. Recent tensions flared over a confrontation between Turkish Cypriot forces and U.N. peacekeepers in August, related to a road construction project in the buffer zone.

The road provides direct access to Pyla for Turkish Cypriots, bypassing a checkpoint at the northern border of a British military base.

The project, seen by Turkish Cypriot authorities as a "humanitarian objective" to facilitate easier access for Pyla village residents, sparked concerns from the Greek side, viewing it as a potentially military...