Turkish Cypriots slam Erdoğan’s advisor for calling Turkish Cyprus an 'overseas province'

NICOSIA

The spokesperson of the Turkish Cypriot presidency has blasted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s advisor Yiğit Bulut for describing Turkish Cyprus as “an overseas province of Turkey.” 

“The definition of ‘overseas province’ is an invalid concept that no longer has a place in modern Turkey’s Misak-i Milli [National Oath] understanding, sinking deep into Ottoman history,” Barış Burcu said on April 26.

Bulut had made the remarks during a TV program titled “Derin Analiz” (Deep Analysis) on Turkey’s state-owned television channel TRT News. 

“[Turkish Cyprus] is an overseas province of Turkey … There is a president, a prime minister and parliament there, and Turkey is basically paying for these expenses,” he said. 

In response, Burcu said the two capitals’ relations should not be founded on the framework of Turkish Cyprus being an “overseas province,” but instead as “allied and brotherly countries.” 

Although Bulut’s remarks were “inappropriate,” they should not be “taken seriously,” Burcu added, noting that Erdoğan’s colorful advisor had also made statements in the past that “caused public resentment.” 

“Saying ‘[Turkish Cyprus] is an overseas province of the Turkish Republic’ is unacceptable and has wounded the Turkish Cypriot people,” he also said.