The Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre said on Tuesday that the Turkish Cypriot people had no other option but to defend the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and strengthen it.

In an interview with Türkiye’s Anadolu News Agency, Töre said that the Greek Cypriots had not given up on their aspirations to unite the island with Greece.

“There are currently two states in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots are sovereign in the south and we, the Turkish Cypriots, have our own sovereign independent state in the north. It is not possible for us to give up on our independence, he said, pointing out that the leaders of both sides had spent, without any success, 50 years trying to negotiate a federal settlement on the island.

Töre said that he has always argued against a federal settlement and had defended the existence of the TRNC.

“We have no other option but to defend the TRNC’s existence, to take all steps to further strengthen it,” he added.

The TRNC parliamentary speaker said that changing geopolitical conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean had made it even more important to preserve and protect the existence of the TRNC.

“It is important we contribute to protecting Turkiye’s interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and maintaining the Blue Homeland Doctrine.

Also touching upon the Maraş initiative, Töre said that the current work being carried out in the fenced-off town was limited to public spaces.

“Those with property claims in Maraş can apply to the Immovable Property Commission (IPC). We need to process these applications as soon as possible. Too long has Maraş been left abandoned,” he said.