Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has rejected President Christodoulides’s proposal for three-table talks on Cyprus, maintaining his stance that any future meetings should follow a 4+1 format that excludes Britain to “ensure balance”.
Speaking to Gundem Kibris Web, Tatar dismissed the proposal, arguing it would lead to “substantive negotiations” and noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s silence on the matter.
“These are comprehensive negotiation issues”, Tatar said. “There is no environment to discuss them. We accept an informal meeting where we can discuss how common ground might be created”.
While Greek Cypriots support Britain’s involvement as a guarantor power with bases on the island, Tatar suggested Britain could participate only “as an observer below ministerial level”, adding that this had been discussed with Turkey.
Tatar criticised the UN’s structure, particularly the Security Council, claiming bias. “The UN is biased because the Security Council is behind them. Balance at the table exists only with Turkey’s presence. For all these reasons, we only accept meetings in a 4+1 format”, he said.
Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pushing for representation of the Turkish Cypriot administration at the Organisation of Turkic States summit in Bishkek, according to Turkish daily Milliyet.
During a meeting with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Erdogan emphasised the importance of high-level representation for the Turkish Cypriot administration at the summit.
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