TRNC Rejects EU’s “So-Called Cyprus Representative”: “He Will Not Be Recognized in Any Manner”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has issued a stern diplomatic rejection regarding the European Union’s unilateral appointment of European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as a “so-called Special Representative for Cyprus.” Lefkoşa declared that the appointment holds zero legitimacy and affirmed that Northern Cyprus will not recognize or engage with the representative under any circumstances.

The official reaction follows a visit by Raffaele Fitto to the island immediately after UN Secretary-General António Guterres completed his own diplomatic engagements in Cyprus. The TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorized the visit as the latest manifestation of the EU’s persistent attempt to arbitrarily intervene in the Cyprus issue without the consent of both parties.

“No Legitimacy Without the Will of the Turkish Cypriot People”

In its official statement, the TRNC Foreign Ministry highlighted the stark contrast between the United Nations’ cautious approach and the EU’s unilateral actions:

“In the current environment where even the UN Secretary-General refrains from appointing a special envoy—designating only a personal envoy—and where no official negotiation process exists between the sides, appointing a so-called special representative at the request of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCA), without the consent of the TRNC and completely ignoring the will of the Turkish Cypriot people, carries no legitimacy for us.”

The Ministry underscored that no activity or intervention attempted by the appointee under this title will be accepted by the TRNC Government, explicitly ruling out any official contact or dialogue.

EU Accused of Deepening the Imbalance

The statement directly holding Brussels accountable for the protracted stalemate on the island re-emphasized the historical error of 2004, when the EU unilaterally admitted the Greek Cypriot Administration as a member state despite its rejection of the UN Annan Plan.

According to the TRNC, this decision destroyed the EU’s neutrality, emboldened Greek Cypriot intransigence, and entrenched a fundamental status inequality between the two sides on the island. “The European Union is indisputably one of the primary entities responsible for the structural imbalance experienced on the island today,” the statement noted.

Demand to End Isolations and Acknowledgment of Two States

Addressing the EU’s claims of wanting to make a constructive contribution, the TRNC Ministry asserted that genuine intent must begin with fulfilling long-standing promises to lift all political, economic, cultural, and sports isolations unfairly imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people. However, Lefkoşa acknowledged that the EU’s internal unanimity requirement makes positive action from Brussels virtually impossible due to the Greek Cypriot veto power.

Reiterating the core diplomatic stance of Northern Cyprus, the Ministry concluded by outlining the undeniable facts on the ground:

• Two Distinct Peoples: The island is home to two distinct communities with equal rights.

• Two Separate States: Two independent democratic authorities exist and govern their respective territories.

• Sovereign Equality: A sustainable, lasting agreement can only be built upon the confirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status, paving the way for a cooperative relationship between two sovereign states.

The TRNC Ministry reiterated that any unilateral step taken without accepting these foundational realities will carry no legal or political validity for the Turkish Cypriot nation.