Turkish Cypriot Parliament Speaker Says Greek Cypriot Administration “Handed Sovereignty to Israel”

TRNC Parliament Speaker Ziya Öztürkler has claimed that the Greek Cypriot administration has “handed its sovereignty to Israel,” criticizing what he described as deepening security and military alignment in the eastern Mediterranean.

Speaking to TRT Avaz, Öztürkler argued that recent steps taken by the Greek Cypriot leadership went beyond political cooperation and amounted to a transfer of strategic autonomy. He said the island was being drawn into wider regional military arrangements without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Öztürkler warned that growing cooperation with Israel and Greece risked turning southern Cyprus into a forward military platform, increasing tensions rather than contributing to stability. He framed the issue as a matter of sovereignty and security, not diplomacy alone.

Reiterating the Turkish Cypriot position, Öztürkler said the Turkish Cypriot people would continue on their path together with Türkiye, underlining Ankara’s guarantor role as a central pillar of security on the island.

There was no immediate public response from the Greek Cypriot administration to the remarks.