What will Bahçeli say to these remarks? Alliance partners at odds over Cyprus issue

AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made significant remarks following the elections in Northern Cyprus. While expressing respect for the election results and the will of the Turkish Cypriots, Erdoğan said, "It is never possible for us to look askance or look negatively at Northern Cyprus."

In his statement to journalists on the plane, Erdoğan said, "The will of the Turkish Cypriots is highly respected by us. We did not make all these investments in Northern Cyprus for nothing," indicating that relations with Northern Cyprus would continue as they have during the AKP government's tenure.

BAHÇELİ'S CALL FOR "CYPRUS SHOULD JOIN TURKEY"

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli had made notable remarks following the victory of CTP candidate Tufan Erhürman in the TRNC presidential election. In his statement after the election results, Bahçeli had called for "Cyprus should join Turkey" and urged the TRNC Parliament not to accept a return to a federation.

ERDOĞAN GAVE A DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN BAHÇELİ 

Erdoğan's statements did not follow a path parallel to the rhetoric of MHP leader Bahçeli. Erdoğan stated that he did not agree with the views that Northern Cyprus should join Turkey and emphasized that the electoral will of the Turkish Cypriots must be respected. Erdoğan expressed that relations with Northern Cyprus would continue to be strong, as they have always been.

RELATIONS WITH CYPRUS WILL NOT CHANGE

Erdoğan stated that relations with Northern Cyprus would continue in the same manner as they have been maintained under the AK Party government. Saying, "Our relations with Northern Cyprus will never change," Erdoğan expressed that they have always defended the rights of Turkish Cypriots and that their investments were made within this framework.

BAHÇELİ'S ELECTION COMMENTS

In his post-election statements, Bahçeli had argued that the TRNC elections were held with low turnout and stated that they did not accept the results. At the same time, Bahçeli had said that the TRNC would not accept a return to a federation and that such decisions could not be approved by the Turkish side.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In the presidential election held in Northern Cyprus, CTP Chairman Tufan Erhürman received 62.7 percent of the votes, while the vote share of Ersin Tatar, who ran as an independent candidate with the support of the coalition government consisting of the center-right National Unity Party (UBP), the Democratic Party (DP), and the Rebirth Party (YDP), remained at 35.8 percent.

In Northern Cyprus, where there are approximately 218 thousand voters, the turnout rate was at the 64 percent level.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which unilaterally declared its independence in 1983, is recognized only by Turkey.

News Source: 12punto