President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tatar Comments on Informal Cyprus Meeting
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tatar Comments on Informal Cyprus Meeting
President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar commented on the United Nations' expanded-format Cyprus meeting, stating, "If they invited us here knowing that there is no common ground, it means that our two-state policy is making progress."
Tatar made his remarks regarding the expanded-format Cyprus meeting held in Geneva under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He noted that they had been in Geneva with a constructive approach, expressing gratitude to Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his team for their full support.
Tatar stated, "It was very important for us that Turkey was by our side here." He recalled that for a long time, instead of bilateral meetings, he had been advocating for an environment where the Turkish Cypriots could be stronger and have their rights and interests protected, with the participation of both motherlands. He emphasized that the meeting had taken place in such an environment.
"In 2021, It Became Clear There Was No Common Ground"
Tatar recalled that they had attended another informal meeting in Geneva four years ago and said that after he became president, there had been significant reactions when the politics of sovereign equality and international status were first raised.
“However, in the end, we realized that we should not enter a process based on a federation, as they have always been unsuccessful, and we know very well what happened during the Annan Plan,” the TRNC President remarked. He also reminded that during Crans-Montana, the Greek Cypriots rejected all proposals, and all opportunities had been exhausted.
Tatar stated that with Turkey's full support, they had opened a new chapter and reached the point where they are today, but emphasized that in 2021, it became clear that there was no common ground.
“If they invited us here knowing that there is no common ground, it means that our two-state policy is making progress. In Cyprus, there are two sides, two peoples, and two states, and if there is to be a solution in Cyprus, cooperation between the two must come first. The culture of cooperation must be developed beforehand."
Tatar noted that the seeds of cooperation culture were being planted at the meeting and that the UN Secretary-General's personal representative had been appointed as part of this process.
Plans for Cooperation and New Border Crossings
Tatar mentioned that work would continue for cooperation in areas such as solar energy in the buffer zone, cemetery arrangements, and other matters. He also recalled that the proposal he made for opening two new border crossings had not been accepted previously.
However, Tatar stated that new border crossings could be opened for the benefit of both sides, to increase trade and tourism, and to ease movement. “The Secretary-General said that four gates could be opened. These are important steps and developments,” he said.
The meeting in Geneva, intended to determine a future path for the Cyprus issue, brought together representatives from both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, as well as the guarantor countries Turkey, Greece, and the UK.
The meeting was attended by TRNC President Tatar, Foreign Minister Fidan, South Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, and the UK's Minister of State for Europe and North America Stephen Doughty, along with their respective delegations.