Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman reacted with bemusement on Thursday to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s speech at the opening ceremony of Cyprus’ six-month term as the holder of the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency, saying she “ignored” the Turkish Cypriot community.

“We will not ignore being ignored,” he began, saying that “there is not a single line in the text [of von der Leyen’s speech] that mentions Turkish Cypriots”.

He added that von der Leyen had “described how ‘innovators in the field of artificial intelligence are developing the technologies of tomorrow in the shadow of Byzantine churches’ as if the only thing in the history of this island was Byzantium”.

“We absolutely do not have an understanding of ‘let’s ignore it so that our relations do not deteriorate’. For us, the truth is this: ‘let’s not ignore being ignored, let’s show it in every forum so that relations are put on the right footing’,” he said.

To this end, he said that under his leadership, the Turkish Cypriot side “neither avoids meetings, not avoids conveying our thoughts, facts, and truths when we meet”.

“This is precisely what we have been explaining, and will continue to explain, to all EU and EU member state officials when we meet, saying’ there is a need for confidence-building measures between the EU and Turkish Cypriots’,” he said.

On this matter, he said that he had “already explained our views on the political dimension of the issue and the anomaly regarding Cyprus within the EU at length”, and that “we continue to explain this to everyone we meet”.

“I believe that even a simple reconsideration of the text of this speech by EU officials would be enlightening in terms of understanding many of the things we are trying to convey. The Turkish Cypriot people existed, exists, and will continue to exist on this island. It is not only dialogue, patience, and composure that exists. Let no one overlook our determination,” he said.

While von der Leyen did not mention the Turkish Cypriot community, she did say in her speech that “we meet in a country where the promise of reunification awaits to be fulfilled”.

“Few places in the European Union understand as clearly what it means to live with the consequences of division – and, at the same time, to refuse to let division define the future,” she said, before later adding that “for the European Union, a comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement for Cyprus remains an absolute priority”.

“That is why I appointed former commissioner Johannes Hahn as EU Envoy for Cyprus. And it is why we will do all we can to ensure that the UN-led process succeeds, so that 2026 can bring renewed momentum towards a reunified Cyprus,” she said.

Hahn was appointed in May last year, and has since visited the island twice, meeting both Erhurman and President Nikos Christodoulides on both occasions.

On the latter occasion, last month, he said that “after so many difficult times, I believe that now there is an opportunity”.

He added that Europe “is relying on” Christodoulides to “find a good relationship with the Turkish Cypriot leader, so that the way is opened not only for the resumption of talks but also for a definitive, positive solution”.