Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

World

Turkey rebukes newly-elected Turkish Cypriot leader for suggesting treatment as an equal

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • 78a5770d-
    Image 1 of 2

    Turkish Cypriot newly elected leader Mustafa Akinci with his wife Miral wave to his supporters after he won the leadership election in Nicosia in the Turkish Cypriot breakaway north part of the divided island of Cyprus, Sunday, April 26, 2015. Akinci, a veteran politician with a strong track record of reaching out to rival Greek Cypriots, was elected as leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots in ethnically divided Cyprus. Akinci defeated hard-line incumbent Dervis Eroglu with 60.38 percent of the vote, preliminary official results showed. Turnout for Sunday's vote was just over 64 percent. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

  • e9626560-
    Image 2 of 2

    A supporter of Turkish Cypriot newly elected leader Mustafa Akinci celebrates his win as waves a Turkish flag during the Turkish Cypriots election in Nicosia in the Turkish Cypriot breakaway north part of the divided island of Cyprus, Sunday, April 26, 2015. Akinci, a veteran politician with a strong track record of reaching out to rival Greek Cypriots, was elected as leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots in ethnically divided Cyprus. Akinci defeated hard-line incumbent Dervis Eroglu with 60.38 percent of the vote, preliminary official results showed. Turnout for Sunday's vote was just over 64 percent. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey's president has rebuked the newly-elected leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state after he suggested that Turkey should deal with northern Cyprus as an equal.

Mustafa Akinci, who has pledged to focus his energy on achieving an accord reunifying Cyprus, was elected president on Sunday. He says he favors a relationship "between brothers" with Turkey — not one where the "motherland" dictates terms.

In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that Turkey finances northern Cyprus' budget, had made sacrifices for it, and would continue to consider it as its "child."

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of uniting the island with Greece.

Akinci's election has revived hopes for the reunification talks next month, but any deal would require cooperation from Turkey.