Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has rejected a package of proposals from President Nikos Christodoulides regarding the opening of new crossing points that would benefit both communities on the divided island.
Tatar said he would send a letter directly to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres detailing his response to Christodoulides’s proposals, rather than communicating through UN representatives, whom he claimed were “always under Greek Cypriot influence”.
Speaking to Kibris channel, Tatar said his letter would cover events from the New York dinner to last Monday’s meeting.
He said that whilst Guterres had discussed checkpoints at the New York dinner, Christodoulides had introduced proposals that “we cannot accept”.
The Turkish Cypriot leader criticised the Greek Cypriot president’s suggestion for a Truth Commission, calling it a “politicisation” of the missing persons issue.
He said this humanitarian matter could be discussed after the Committee on Missing Persons completed its work.
Tatar insisted that checkpoints should be discussed separately from other issues.
He specifically focused on opening the Mia Milia crossing point, which he said would benefit Turkish Cypriots. He argued that the opening of the Limnitis crossing was “a gift to Greek Cypriots” under former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, saying it was now time for reciprocation.
Regarding the Louroujina area, Tatar expressed opposition to transit crossings, claiming Greek Cypriots would use passage through Turkish Cypriot territory to later stake territorial claims.
He also rejected proposals regarding Pyla, opposing Greek Cypriot settlement requests near a new road project.
Tatar said the road construction between Arsous and Pyla was “our most natural right” and accused Greek Cypriots of building a university and other structures in the buffer zone near Pyla, calling it “an injustice to Turkish Cypriots”.
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