Ersin Tatar: Holguin Attempted to Push Parties into Negotiations Without Common Ground

President Ersin Tatar conveyed that Maria Angela Holguin, the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, requested a 3D (direct flights, direct trade, direct contacts) initiative, stating, "If this initiative could have been implemented, negotiations could have been initiated."

President Tatar, in an interview with the Turkish Cypriot News Agency (TAK), evaluated his meeting with Maria Angela Holguin, the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, and the current status of efforts to find common ground.

President Tatar emphasized that common ground could only be achieved through the affirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status, which are necessary components of the new national policy.

Stating that the "Republic of Cyprus" is a member of the European Union and would not accept any structure that would abolish it, President Tatar explained that he would not accept a situation where the Greek Cypriots sit at the table as the "Republic" and the Turks as a "community." Tatar underscored the importance of recognizing equality as a state.

President Tatar stated that the sole aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to remove Turkey from the island and emphasized that it would not be possible for Turkish Cypriots to sustain their existence in a geography where Turkey's guarantorship has ended.

Expressing his objection to Holguin's meetings with various groups, Tatar stated that Holguin does not have the right to measure the people's orientations by "going door to door" and expressed his discomfort with this approach.

Referring to his last meeting with Holguin, Tatar emphasized that the Cyprus issue, unresolved for 60 years, is not something that Holguin can solve with a "magic wand."

"HOLGUIN ATTEMPTED TO PUSH PARTIES INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITHOUT COMMON GROUND"

President Ersin Tatar evaluated some statements made by Maria Angela Holguin to the Greek Cypriot press. Responding to Holguin's expression of surprise at Tatar's rejection of the trilateral meeting proposal, Tatar noted that there is currently no common ground, and without common ground, negotiations would be meaningless.

Highlighting that Holguin is not the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General but the Personal Representative, and her task is to investigate whether there is common ground to start the negotiation process, Tatar stated, "Common ground can only be possible with our new understanding, our new national policy, which requires our sovereign equality and equal international status, as we outlined in Geneva on April 27-29, 2021. There is no common ground now because the other side adheres to the concept of a two-zone, two-community federation. There is a difference between our understanding and theirs."

Tatar stated that negotiations could begin if the two sides could reach common ground, pointing out that Holguin is trying to force the issue without common ground and does not understand the realities of Cyprus.

Tatar also referred to the joint press conference held by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where Erdoğan stated, "It is important to achieve a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue based on the realities on the island." Tatar emphasized the existence of two separate peoples, two separate democracies, and two separate states in Cyprus, stating that Erdoğan also refers to "sovereign equality and equal international status." Tatar said, "They may not recognize the state in the North. But who can deny the existence of the state here? With its institutions and organizations, its democracy, judiciary, legislature, executive, all kinds of mechanisms and functions, our state is more established and rooted than many states."

Asserting that Turkish Cypriots also have the right to self-governance and own a state, Tatar stated that negotiations could begin now that two states are facing each other.

"HOLGUIN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING REGARDING SOVEREIGN EQUALITY AND EQUAL INTERNATIONAL STATUS TO START NEGOTIATIONS"

While referring to the rejection of the Annan Plan by the Greek Cypriots despite being a member of the European Union, Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriots no longer need an agreement after that point and will not embark on a structure consisting of two founding states that would abolish the Republic of Cyprus. Tatar said, "Because the Republic of Cyprus is a recognized state, a European Union state."

Tatar emphasized that negotiations would be meaningless if the Turks sit at the table as a community while the Greeks as the Republic. He reiterated the importance of obtaining equality before sitting at the table. Tatar said, "This is very important... The inherent right of the Turkish Cypriot is equal anyway. Our greatest strength is this... In the establishment agreement of the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are owners and partners of the republic as much as Greek Cypriots. They threw us out by force. The real occupier is there..."

Referring to the statements of hope made by Holguin that "both leaders will listen to the voices and desires of their citizens," Tatar emphasized that Turkish Cypriots do not approve of the withdrawal of Turkish troops.

President Tatar acknowledged that there are some difficulties in the country but stressed that they have managed to keep the state standing even in the most difficult times. He said, "There is an order here. In this order, there is independence, freedom, liberty, and honorable living. Turkey supports my politics. Turkish Cypriots are not alone; they have 85 million Turkey by their side."

Tatar stated that the Greek side's sole aim is to remove Turkey from the island and emphasized that security is the most valuable thing. He said, "What will happen to our security when the soldiers withdraw? Turkey's presence here is essential for ensuring our security." Tatar added that it would not be possible for Turkish Cypriots to sustain their existence in a geography where Turkey's guarantorship has ended.

While acknowledging the presence of "extremely marginal" groups in the country, Tatar emphasized that the people generally value their independence, freedom, and honor. He said that the people would not give up their independent state.

Regarding Holguin's meetings with different groups, Tatar said, "There is an elected president here, there is a government, there are ruling parties. She has no right to measure the people's orientations by going door to door. She does not have the right... It is not pleasant for her to carry out a process that challenges the established order, going to the most extreme opponents, in a provoking mode. I was uncomfortable with that, frankly speaking... Holguin's duty is to investigate whether there is common ground. It is already clear that there is no common ground..."

"AFTER THE 1974 PEACE OPERATION, WE WERE AT EASE"

Tatar referred to Holguin's statement that "there has been 60 years of division in Cyprus" and said, "As if there was peace in the long term on the island 60 years ago..." and emphasized that Turkish Cypriots were relieved after the 1974 Peace Operation.

Recalling his attendance at the inauguration of the Lost Bus Monument in Larnaca, commemorating the 11 martyrs killed in 1964, President Ersin Tatar pointed out that the incident happened exactly 60 years ago.

Tatar referred to his last meeting with Holguin, saying, "What I said to her, 'I'm sorry, there is no common ground.' I thanked her... The Cyprus issue, which has been unresolved for 60 years, is not something that she can solve with a magic wand. I conveyed my expectation that she should explain the process well, and her report should be balanced and fair. Because what they write is important for us too. Her task is to investigate whether there is common ground... I expressed my opinion that she should not seek help from opponents by going door to door to measure the people's orientations. She should not have done that. She should have just researched whether there is common ground..."

"THERE IS A STATE IN THIS ORDER..."

Referring to the rejection of a federal-based solution still advocated by some circles, President Tatar said, "There is no point in sitting at the table and not receiving the equality that is rightfully ours. We need to obtain equality before sitting at the table. This is very important... The inherent right of the Turkish Cypriot is equal anyway. Our greatest strength is this... In the establishment agreement of the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are owners and partners of the republic as much as Greek Cypriots. They threw us out by force. The real occupier is there..."

"THERE NEEDS TO BE DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM AZERBAIJAN"

When asked about the statement of Cavanşir Feyziyev, the Chairman of the Azerbaijan-KKTC Parliamentary Friendship Group, saying, "The first official visit of the Azerbaijani Parliament to the TRNC implies recognition at a diplomatic level," President Tatar said, "We also hope that things will reach that point. The Azerbaijani National Assembly has approved this friendship group. He said that the Azerbaijani National Assembly's approval is a formality, a step. In my heart, I also want direct flights."