monument decision — monument decision — The Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, has condemned the European Parliament’s decision to fund a monument for those missing during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. He referred to the move as “one of the most painful examples of acting as if Turkish Cypriots do not exist on the island.”
In a Facebook post made on Friday, Erhurman expressed his disappointment and indicated that immediate steps would be taken with all relevant parties regarding this decision. He pointed out that the European Parliament appears to be unaware of the ongoing efforts by the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), which has been addressing the issue for both communities for many years.
Monument decision: Concerns Over Representation
Erhurman raised concerns about the representation of Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament, noting that the two seats designated for them are currently occupied by Greek Cypriots. He argued that this situation prevents the Parliament from fully understanding the complexities of the situation in Cyprus. “This matter will not end with a simple condemnation,” he asserted, emphasising the need for action.
A Humanitarian Issue
The Turkish Cypriot “presidency” issued a statement clarifying that the issue of missing persons from the years 1963 to 1974 is a humanitarian matter affecting both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The statement reiterated that the CMP’s mandate includes the search for missing individuals from both communities, asserting that its work continues unaffected by political agendas.
Criticism of EU’s Funding Decision
In its statement, the Turkish Cypriot leadership condemned the EU Parliament’s plan to allocate funds for a monument in its 2026 budget, labelling it a “very wrong stance.” They argued that this decision adopts a one-sided approach that distorts the narrative surrounding the missing persons issue. It was highlighted that the effectiveness of CMP operations relies on their ability to function independently from political influences.
The statement further accused the EU Parliament of passing the amendment to fund the monument for political reasons, claiming it undermines the principle of neutrality that is vital for the CMP’s operations. The Turkish Cypriot leadership has called for the immediate reversal of the decision, insisting that all necessary measures will be taken to prevent the humanitarian issue from being exploited for political gain.
