Erhan Arıklı rejects allegations of being an enemy to Turkish Cypriots

Erhan Arıklı, Minister of Public Works and Transport and Chairman of the Yeniden Doğuş Partisi (YDP), has issued a response to allegations that he is an enemy of Turkish Cypriots. In a social media statement, Arıklı rejected the label, stating, “A Turkish Cypriot enemy will not come from my fabric.”

Arıklı defined himself as a Turkish nationalist, arguing that Turkish nationalism views all Turks—from the Adriatic to the Great Wall of China—as equals regardless of geographic or political boundaries. He emphasized that while his priorities include Turkey and Cyprus, he rejects “local nationalism,” which he described as a “poison” that destroys national consciousness and hinders Turkish unity.

He further clarified that his political struggle is directed against those among Turkish Cypriots who use terms such as “occupier” or “occupying army” to describe Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces.