Lefkoşa, July 13, 2026: The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Monday strongly rejected the European Commission’s appointment of Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as its so-called “special representative for Cyprus,” describing the move as unilateral, biased and unacceptable.
In a statement, the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the appointment, reportedly made at the recommendation of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC), was carried out without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side and ignored the political will of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The ministry said the decision was a provocative step that once again exposed what it described as the European Union’s lack of neutrality on the Cyprus issue.
According to the statement, the EU forfeited its credibility as an impartial actor when it admitted the Greek Cypriot administration as a member in 2004 without taking into account the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The ministry argued that appointing a representative under the current circumstances, when no common ground exists between the two sides and ahead of an anticipated informal meeting on the Cyprus issue, would only increase tensions and undermine prospects for meaningful dialogue.
It further accused the European Union of attempting to pressure the Turkish Cypriot side and create a fait accompli by coordinating with the Greek Cypriot administration to revive what it called a failed settlement model.
The statement maintained that a realistic and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue could only be achieved through cooperation based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two sides on the island.
The ministry also urged the European Union to demonstrate its impartiality by lifting what it described as political, economic and cultural restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people.
It added that unless the EU recognizes the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people, any unilateral initiatives concerning Cyprus would be regarded as null and void by the TRNC, and the newly appointed representative would not be recognized as an interlocutor by its government.
