The Easter message of Archbishop George of Cyprus, as translated into Turkish and broadcast by a Turkish Cypriot “news agency,” has drawn sharp criticism from Turkish Cypriot politicians. The Archbishop’s Easter message calls for the ‘Expulsion of the Turkish invader’. According to CYPE, Turkish Cypriot media outlets reported that the Archbishop had called for the “expulsion of the Turks.”
Specifically, reports circulated yesterday by the “news agency” and Turkish Cypriot online media claimed that the Archbishop urged “Greece, South Cyprus, and all Hellenism to make a concerted effort to expel the Turks.”
Turkey is manipulating the international community on the Cyprus problem, presenting concessions and demanding reciprocation, and has lured the Greek Cypriot side into discussing trivialities, thus buying time to promote its bid to Turkify the whole of Cyprus, Archbishop Georgios said in a scathing Easter message.
The archbishop warned that a concerted effort was being made to convince the Greek Cypriot side that this was its last chance to reach a settlement and called on everyone to wake up and prevent “national suicide”.
The archbishop’s message will be read out in all churches to worshippers on Saturday night at the Easter service.
It should be noted, however, that the Archbishop’s actual message referred to the “expulsion of the Turkish invader,” not the “expulsion of the Turks.” In his Easter address, Archbishop George once again denounced Turkey for its 51-year occupation of northern Cyprus and called for “concerted efforts to expel the Turkish invader and liberate our homeland.”
Tatar’s attack on Archbishop and Christodoulides
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar condemned the Easter remarks made by both the Archbishop and the President of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, claiming that such statements undermine dialogue and reflect a mentality seeking to “dominate” Turkish Cypriots. Tatar repeated his position that the bicommunal federation model has been “exhausted,” insisting that the solution lies in the “sovereign equality” of two separate states.
Meanwhile, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman also condemned the statements, describing them as “discriminatory and provocative,” and questioned who politically represents the Greek Cypriot side.
Other Turkish Cypriot politicians, including Oguzhan Hasipoglu and Serhat Akpinar, similarly criticised the Archbishop’s message, labelling it “hate speech” that “poisons the atmosphere.”
