Greek Cypriots should ‘welcome Erdogan with flowers’ - Turkish Cypriot lawmaker

Greek Cypriots should welcome Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with flowers when he visits northern Cyprus next week, the head of the National Unity Party (UBP), Huseyin Ozgurgun has reportedly said.

According to Turkish Cypriot daily, Kibris, Ozgurgun on Wednesday said that if it were not for Turkey, the Greek Cypriots would not live on the is land in peace and tranquillity.

Erdogan is set to visit the north on July 10, his first visit after bring sworn in again after his recent re-election.

In statements to Turkish Dogan news agency (DHA), Ozgurgun  dismissed as ‘nonsense’ comments made by the Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis expressing the Republic of Cyprus’ disapproval of Erdogan’s visit.

Mavroyiannis or the Greek Cypriot leadership should come to Ercan [Tymbou airport] holding flowers.  If it was not for our Turkey, the Greek Cypriots also would not live on the island in peace and tranquillity. We, as Turkish Cypriots, are proud, happy. Our President, Mr Erdogan loves us, he loves the Turkish Cypriot people. If our Turkey did not exist, we would also not exist, said Ozgurgun.

Commenting on references in Greek Cypriot social media that Erdogan should meet with President Anastasiades, Ozgurgun described them as “propaganda”. If Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visits the Turkish Cypriot leader, he said, then Erdogan will visit Anastasiades.

During his visit, according to reports, Erdogan will officially open the Hala Sultan mosque in Haspolat.

Cyprus Mail