President Ersin Tatar evaluates the visit of President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the TRNC in his interview with the TAK news agency
“There is no possibility of turning back. A return to negotiations passes through the recognition of the TRNC”
President Ersin Tatar evaluated the visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the TRNC with regards to the Cyprus issue and domestic matters, in an interview with the TAK news agency.
President Tatar stated that this was the third visit of President Erdoğan to the island during Mr Tatar's own two-and-a-half years in office as the TRNC President. He said the first visit abroad of President Erdoğan following his re-election as President was to the TRNC, which is “very important, meaningful and significant”.
“The first visit abroad of President Erdoğan to the TRNC shows the importance given to the TRNC, which was conducted with a high-level delegation consisting of four ministers and other officials,” President Tatar said.
Referring to the remarks President Erdoğan made at the joint press conference at the Presidency where he stated that “a possible return to the negotiating table is through the recognition of the TRNC,” President Tatar said: “We have evaluated these issues together and there is no possibility of turning back. We spoke about taking initiatives with regards to the recognition of the TRNC at the Organisation of Turkic States and other friendly countries. What is important is to strengthen the structure of the TRNC. The support of the Republic of Türkiye is of great importance.”
“The Republic of Türkiye will also work for the consolidation of the two States national policy”
Reminding that the Republic of Türkiye was founded by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk nearly 100 years ago, President Tatar stated: “The Republic of Türkiye is on the verge of entering its second century and there is much more to achieve under the leadership of President Erdoğan. As a matter of national policy, more importance should be given to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”
The President added that the mentality of the Greek Cypriot side does not conform to having an equality-based settlement under a federal partnership, which has become more entrenched following the EU membership of Southern Cyprus. “The Greek Cypriot Side has an obsession that the island of Cyprus is Hellenic, and they are unwilling to share power and prosperity with the Turkish Cypriots in an equality-based partnership, which has been proven time and again. They are making more extreme demands and want the Turkish army to leave the island and to end the Turkish guarantees, and to exclude Türkiye from the eastern Mediterranean. This is of course not acceptable to the Republic of Türkiye,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar explained: “Our political stance in terms of Cyprus, is one that makes up a very important point in the agenda of the Republic of Türkiye, which is aimed at promoting and consolidating the two States national policy. The Republic of Türkiye will carry out work in this regard on the basis.”
“President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will appoint Cevdet Yılmaz”
President Tatar continued: “The first will be to continue contacts with other countries, to promote the existence of the TRNC, and to seek support from friendly nations. I believe that what is understood by the term recognition is something that will come about by itself. There are fields where relations can be formed, such as in the areas of culture, trade, tourism, education and sports, before forming any diplomatic relations. . .our Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce has become an observer member at the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry. They will meet continuously and discuss issues relating to trade and economic matters. All of these will contribute to the promotion of and visibility of the TRNC. The President of the Republic of Türkiye will continue to support all of these.
“Secondly, the economic structure in the TRNC is very important. We have managed to come out of the pandemic, and there is an economic crisis. . .how will the TRNC protect itself in the face of inflation? These are among the issues that I discussed with the President. . . and we also discussed the situation at Ercan airport and the opening of the new terminal building on July 20. . .transporting electricity to the TRNC through an interconnector cable. . .President Erdoğan has stated that following his return from Azerbaijan, he will ask Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz to visit the TRNC. Mr Yılmaz is a former minister, and his area of expertise is on planning and budgets. In light of these, there are to be meetings covering a wide-range of issues over the course of a few days during his visit to our country. There will be work in relation to the Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol. President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has instructed Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz to help find solutions to some of the problems. Therefore, we will on one hand be working for recognition, whilst on the other hand work to strengthen our economic structure. The Republic of Türkiye is in full support and solidarity with the TRNC.”
President Tatar added that the “national policy” in the eastern Mediterranean is becoming more rooted and will be continued.
“We will continue to work to protect the legitimate rights and interests of both the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar also said that he had conveyed six cooperation proposals to the Greek Cypriot leadership via the UN last July on different matters. “One of these proposals was about how we can cooperate on hydrocarbon resources. A conference was also proposed to bring together all the relevant sides by the Republic of Türkiye. Unfortunately, we have not had a response to date from the Greek Cypriot Side to the constructive proposals that is aimed at furthering cooperation between the two Sides,” President Tatar said. “The issue is that the Greek Cypriot Side does not recognise our sovereignty or existence. They are continuing to live in a dream that the usurped state, the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ is the dominant element of the region and that the North is also connected to them.”
President Tatar said that he had also discussed the catastrophic earthquakes that occurred in Türkiye on February 6, and had introduced to President Erdoğan former TRNC minister Kenan Akın – whose grandchildren died in the earthquake along with their team mates who were players of the volleyball team.