Tatar: The Path Taken on Cyprus Issue is Correct

According to a statement from the Presidency, Tatar noted that the two-state solution policy is supported by the majority of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Republic of Turkey.

Tatar highlighted that the real contradiction lies with the Greek Cypriot side and its supporters, who present unjust and incorrect arguments. He emphasized the need for cooperation between the two states and reaching an agreement that will develop relations between the two peoples in peace and security.

In his statement, Tatar said:

“Our new policies on Cyprus are correct, justifiable, and undoubtedly aimed at achieving their goals. Those who try to reflect their confusion and contradictions onto us are mistaken. After the elections, on October 26, 2020, UN Secretary-General Mr. Guterres sent a letter regarding Cyprus and proposed an informal meeting to determine if there was a common ground between the two sides on the island to start official negotiations. This informal meeting, following Mr. Guterres’s proposal, took place in Geneva from April 27-29, 2021, with the participation of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, and the guarantor states Turkey, Greece, and the UK, in a ‘5+UN’ format.

During the meeting, I outlined the reasons why the federation did not provide a solution in 50 years and stated that for a sustainable solution, the confirmation of the Turkish Cypriots' sovereign equality and equal international status is essential. I also presented the following six proposals: 1. A UN Security Council resolution guaranteeing our equal international status and sovereign equality is needed to start official talks. 2. Negotiations can begin on the basis of this new framework for cooperation between the two states. 3. Issues like property, security, border arrangements, and relations with the EU should be addressed in official negotiations. 4. The negotiations can be supported by the guarantor countries and, if necessary, the EU as an observer. 5. The agreement reached should include mutual recognition of the two states. 6. The agreement should be submitted to separate referendums.

Despite our proposals, the then Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiadis did not consider the UN Secretary-General's proposal and insisted on continuing the talks from where they left off in Crans-Montana in July 2017 without presenting new ideas. As everyone knows, after the meeting, the UN Secretary-General stated that a ‘common ground could not be found’ for the parties to start negotiations, but work on this issue would continue.

Following this, UN Secretary-General Guterres appointed Canadian diplomat Colin Stewart to replace Elizabeth Spehar as the UN Special Representative and Head of UNFICYP on November 30. While Mr. Stewart continued his work in Cyprus, I conveyed our cooperation proposals, prepared with a win-win philosophy to bring the two sides closer, to the Greek Cypriot side through the UN Secretary-General via two letters dated July 1 and July 8, 2022.

In these proposals, I highlighted potential cooperation on issues like hydrocarbon resources, integration of electricity grids, renewable energy, water resources, irregular migration, and landmine clearance. The Greek Cypriot side did not respond positively to these proposals. As everyone knows, at the beginning of this year, UN Secretary-General Guterres appointed Mr. Holguin as his personal representative to investigate if there was a common ground for a new and formal process between the two sides in Cyprus.

We and Turkey emphasized that there can be no return to federal solution attempts, approving Mr. Holguin’s mandate to solely determine common ground for six months. During this period, we insisted on our previous views and proposals presented in Geneva through the UN Secretary-General, and we expected the UN to grant us our rights on direct trade, direct flights, and direct contact with the world, considering these as initial steps towards confirming our sovereign equality and equal international status. We also explained that our primary goal is to reach an agreement on cooperation between the two states in Cyprus, which would enable us to start official talks. Mr. Holguin noted our views, but no progress was made. The Greek Cypriot side has not abandoned its views, which aim to revert us to the pre-1974 situation, reduce us to a minority status, and use federal solution talks to undermine our struggle.”

“THE FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE STATUS DIFFERENCE IS A KEY OBSTACLE TO RESOLVING THE CYPRUS ISSUE”

President Tatar pointed out that the Cyprus issue will be on the agenda again in New York at the end of this month and continued:

“What I have stated and proposed is evident from President Erdoğan’s calls on Cyprus during the 77th and 78th UN General Assemblies in 2022 and 2023. The Cyprus resolution unanimously adopted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on July 18, 2024, is very clear. The motherland Turkey is calling on the international community to recognize the TRNC as it acknowledges that there are two separate peoples and states on the island and that the key to the solution is the recognition of the Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality and equal international status. The fact that the UN Security Council member countries have not taken any steps to recognize the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots due to their own interests, and have not contributed to resolving the status difference between the sides on the island, are among the main obstacles to solving the Cyprus issue. We will reaffirm our rightful position and determination in the New York meetings regarding their erroneous attitudes. The path taken is correct and justifiable, and there is no doubt about it; therefore, there can be no backtracking or contradictions. The real contradiction lies with the Greek Cypriot side and those who support it in one way or another, who present unjust and incorrect arguments. As I have stated in the UK Parliament, there are two separate states in Cyprus. What needs to be done is to ensure cooperation between these two states and reach an agreement that will develop the relations between the two peoples in peace and security.”