Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar reiterated on Saturday that the only realistic prospect for Cyprus is a two-state solution, following a trilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides in New York.
Tatar also stated that a 5+1 format meeting is expected before the end of the year, in which he will participate.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Tatar thanked Guterres for hosting and his “continued interest in Cyprus,” presenting his participation as proof of his “readiness to remain committed to dialogue”.
He argued that decades of failed negotiations based on a federal solution proved “such a basis has been exhausted,” insisting instead on what he described as a “new and realistic vision” based on “sovereign equality and equal international status” of both sides.
5+1 format meeting expected before year-end
“Change will come when the rules of the game change,” Tatar declared, calling on the international community to support a settlement model recognising two states that would live “side-by-side as good neighbours.”
Tatar criticised President Christodoulides, accusing him of using “words of bigotry, hostility and insults” in his UN General Assembly speech.
He also accused the Greek Cypriot leadership of “worrying inconsistency between its words and actions,” referring to arrests, “abuse of INTERPOL mechanisms,” rejection of assistance during the recent Limassol fire and investments in armaments.
Tatar referred to “practical cooperation initiatives” he proposed to improve daily life, including proposals for energy, tourism, trade and environment, due to the absence of “common ground for restarting talks”.
He repeated his call for opening new crossing points at Mia Milia and Louroujina to decongest the busy Agios Dometios checkpoint.
Tatar mentioned four initiatives agreed in July in New York concerning cultural heritage, microplastics pollution, air quality management and civil society participation.
“These commitments reflect my belief that cooperation between the two sides should not remain symbolic, but develop into substantial projects in areas such as energy, water, trade, electricity interconnection and tourism,” he said.
Two-state policy requires parliamentary approval
Tatar expressed his desire for a new round of informal 5+1 talks before the end of the year at a location that would not require a long transatlantic journey, whilst thanking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for urging UN member states to recognise the pseudo-state.
In statements to illegal Bayrak, Tatar said negotiations will not continue from where they stopped at Crans Montana, noting the Turkish Cypriot position is “acceptance of sovereign equality and equal international status”.
At a press conference at the “House of Turkey” in New York, Tatar said the “two-state solution policy” is supported by the Turkish National Assembly and should be voted unanimously in the pseudo-state’s “parliament”.
He added that he does not “need a solution”, as the Turkish Cypriot “people” have full support of their “state” and the Turkish Republic.
(information from CNA)
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