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Hasan Hastürer, who joined the Öğlen Ajansı program hosted by Cem Kar by phone, claimed that Prime Minister Eroğlu had requested a meeting with British government officials and received a negative response. Hastürer added that this negative response was very thought-provoking. Other prominent figures who joined the program also commented on Eroğlu’s visit to London and the debate over voting, and made important statements about the meeting between Ertuğruloğlu and Erdoğan featured in the headline of Star Kıbrıs Newspaper.
SAFA: “I DON’T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHO I WOULD LIKE TO BE PRIME MINISTER” “Prime Minister Eroğlu was in London last week. His contacts with the public stood out during the Prime Minister’s visit. Although it was an official visit, Mr. Eroğlu was unable to hold an official meeting with British politicians. However, he attended a dinner at Parliament hosted by Lord Magginis and Lord Monson. What stood out at Eroğlu’s press conference in London was that he generally began his remarks by saying, ‘if I am elected president.’ The public’s expectation, too, is that Eroğlu will be elected president. The fact that public opinion polls produce the same result supports the view that this is what the public expects. The fact that he is the only person to have announced his candidacy is also significant in relation to Eroğlu’s London visit. At the meeting he held on Saturday, Eroğlu met with journalists and answered their questions carefully and thoughtfully. He emphasized that his relations with Türkiye have always been good. I asked him whether there was a candidate for prime minister he personally favored. His answer was quite interesting: ‘I don’t even want to think about it; perhaps they’ll read my thoughts, so I don’t want to discuss or even think about this at all.’ His answer showed us that Mr. Eroğlu is taking a cautious stance on the premiership. Mr. Eroğlu said it would be more diplomatic to leave the candidates until after the presidential election. However, his answer also made it clear that the party will be thrown into turmoil during this process.”
AKAY CEMAL: “I AM IN FAVOR OF GIVING OUR COMPATRIOTS A SAY” Commenting on Prime Minister Eroğlu’s promise during his London visit that citizens living abroad would also be able to vote, Cemal said: “First of all, the Prime Minister’s contacts in London are beneficial. It is important for him to meet with the public and speak with civil society organizations. What is our population in our country right now? Let’s say it is 260,000–270,000. But the population in England is twice that. If we think of Australia, Canada, Türkiye and Germany, the number of Turkish Cypriots living there is far greater than the number living in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus itself. But when we think about it, can citizens living abroad have the right to determine the administration here? Is that fair, in your view? That needs to be emphasized first. We, too, are in favor of giving our compatriots living in other countries a say. For that reason, I believe a formula should be devised that would give them a say. I don’t know whether a quota would be set for Turks in England or whether a similar arrangement would be introduced for citizens in Australia and Türkiye, but these are not matters that can be settled easily; they require long-term work.” Cemal also commented on the situation within the National Unity Party, which had drawn everyone’s attention following the Ertuğruloğlu–Erdoğan meeting: “It’s no secret that Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu was the one who thawed relations with the AKP, even while the UBP was in opposition. In other words, he entered into dialogue with the AK Party and turned the frozen relations dating back to the Annan Plan period into warm relations. Ertuğruloğlu’s contribution in this regard cannot be denied. That is why Ertuğruloğlu, who was in Strasbourg for European Parliament meetings, received an invitation from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to stop in Ankara before returning to Cyprus so they could review the latest developments and exchange views. However, there has been no news regarding Mr. Ertuğruloğlu’s plans to hold a press conference after returning from Ankara. But I believe Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu briefed Prime Minister Eroğlu, and I expect more detailed information on this matter to be given in the coming days,” he said.
AYSU BASRİ AKTER: “MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT RIGHTS ON THE EVE OF AN ELECTION IS UNETHICAL” “The rights of Turkish Cypriots living in England, including their right to vote and stand for election here, have been debated for years. It is therefore an issue that is highly open to exploitation. It is true that the number of citizens living in England is greater than the number living here. Many citizens live there having completely severed their physical ties here. When they return, they face many serious problems, including the issue of military service. I find it extremely interesting that the Prime Minister, right on the eve of an election, should go to England and tell Turkish Cypriots there that, regarding their right to vote and stand for election, ‘we are working on it; you will get this right,’ when this debate has been going on for years. It is not even right to think that this is ethical. Because if you are voting for a particular constituency here or claiming a right, the laws here require you to have lived in this country for a certain period. The Prime Minister should explain why people who have not lived in this country for years and have not situated themselves within its system should be able to vote. Making a change at this point would create another problem.” Akter also commented on what might lie ahead for the UBP if Eroğlu were elected: “One thing is certain: these elections will be interesting for the National Unity Party and for the country’s politics in general. If we look only at the UBP, it is highly significant that Mr. Ertuğruloğlu met with Mr. Erdoğan just as he was announcing his candidacy for prime minister at rallies in a celebratory atmosphere. Mr. Ertuğruloğlu is not an ordinary figure within the UBP. The tensions between Mr. Eroğlu and Ertuğruloğlu, both before and after the last party congress, have been at the center of attention for a long time. I think that Mr. Ertuğruloğlu’s meeting with Mr. Erdoğan at precisely this moment should be read as a political message.”
HASTÜRER: “I DON’T THINK THE PRIME MINISTER WILL TAKE STEPS TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE” Assessing Prime Minister Eroğlu’s meetings in London, Hastürer emphasized that Eroğlu had no need for any kind of propaganda, saying: “The Prime Minister’s visit to London was intended to send a message to the public in terms of international relations. But unfortunately, during this visit, he was also unable to meet with people at the senior levels of British diplomatic life in London.” Speaking about the Prime Minister’s statements in London that citizens living there would be given the right to vote, Hastürer said: “There is only one politician in our political world who has the right to promise Turks in London that they can vote. That is Mehmet Çakıcı. Why does Çakıcı have the right to make such a promise? Because Mehmet Çakıcı is a leader who has not held political responsibility in government. Derviş Bey has served as Prime Minister for about 20 years. There was no need for him to raise this so close to an election. Turks in London have been making demands along these lines for years. These demands had also been put to the CTP and the DP. I don’t think Eroğlu will take any serious steps to make good on this promise. Personally, I am in favor of giving citizens living in Cyprus the right to vote. Because I know there are people who vote in Cyprus but still see no future for themselves there. I cannot accept that someone whose heart beats with love for Cyprus should not have the right to vote, wherever in the world they may be. I am advocating what should be done. If you say that these citizens are citizens of the TRNC when it comes to military service, but not when it comes to voting, that does not seem sincere to me,” he said. Commenting on the meeting between Ertuğruloğlu and Erdoğan, Hastürer said: “The question of who could become Prime Minister after Eroğlu in the National Unity Party is being debated; it is a topic of discussion. But under what circumstances this could emerge as an alternative is a separate matter. In other words, if you have noticed, even before Eroğlu’s candidacy has been confirmed, a debate about who might become Prime Minister after him is being used to create the impression that the presidential race is over and Eroğlu has been elected president. This is propaganda. The aim is to make Eroğlu look strong and increase his chances in the election. One thing is certain: there is a simmering pot within the UBP right now. Another fact is that Mr. Eroğlu is the UBP’s presidential candidate. Major developments will take place within the UBP after the April 19 elections,” he said.
AKMEN ALİ SITKI: “WE DON’T BELIEVE THE PROMISES WILL BE FULFILLED” “Turkish Cypriots in England have treated politicians visiting England with the same respect and courtesy for years. But while the visits of both Mr. Talat and Mr. Eroğlu here on the eve of the election made us happy on the one hand, on the other they reminded us, as Cypriot citizens who have lived abroad for years, that many parties have failed to keep the promises they made in the past. So, although it is a nice gesture to come here on the eve of an election, raise our awareness and say hello, we do not think that Mr. Talat and Mr. Eroğlu will stand up for Turkish Cypriots living abroad. Promises were made in the past, too. But they were not kept. We do not have equal rights. Our country needs us, and we need our country. Therefore, if the TRNC government does not stand up for its citizens, we believe this is a great loss,” he said.