Alongside President Tatar, the two-day informal meeting, that was convened by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, was attended by the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, representing the Motherlands and Guarantor powers were Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis, and the third guarantor was represented by UK State Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty. Also in attendance was the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, María Ángela Holguín.

President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General for convening the informal meeting on Cyprus and to all participants for their presence at the two-day gathering that was held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 16-17 July.

President Tatar stated that he came to New York “with a positive, constructive and forward-looking agenda”, with a “view to not only making progress on the initiatives that had been agreed in the presence of the UN Secretary-General at the informal meeting in Geneva in March,”  but also to “put forward new initiatives, that will contribute to the much-needed creation of a culture of cooperation and to build trust between the Turkish Cypriot people and Greek Cypriot people”. 

“This is the third such gathering in this format since my term as President,” the President said, adding: “I wish to state that I have always remained fully committed to making progress on the six initiatives that had been agreed in March, which was hailed by the Secretary-General in his press conference as constituting a new atmosphere.”   

President Tatar, in reference to the “intensified” legal action and property-related arrests of Turkish Cypriots and investors by the Greek Cypriot leadership, said: “In the plenary today and in my bilateral meetings, I expressed my profound disappointment on property-related arrests and legal action launched against Turkish Cypriots and investors in South Cyprus that is damaging efforts aimed at enhancing people-to-people contacts.  These series of actions have intensified through criminal pursuits instigated by the Greek Cypriot leader and the authorities in the South, following the informal meeting in Geneva in March, which is undermining efforts under the new atmosphere to create a culture of cooperation and building the much-needed trust between the two sides. We had left Geneva with the hope that this new atmosphere would provide tangible results on all six initiatives that would be to the benefit of the two peoples. I was convinced that the Greek Cypriot side would also try to do its utmost to preserve this new atmosphere, the maintenance of which would complement and facilitate our work on the six initiatives to build trust between the Turkish Cypriot people and Greek Cypriot people.  I wish to underline that these series of incidents by the Greek Cypriot side are damaging to the relations of the two peoples, and is targetting our economy. On one hand, we are trying to create trust and enhance social and economic interaction between the two peoples, whilst the Greek Cypriot leadership is through these actions causing Turkish Cypriot people to be anxious, under pressure and increasingly threatened.”

President Tatar added that the "Greek Cypriot leadership is carrying out these property-related legal action and arrests despite the existence of the Immovable Property Commission, which has been in existence since 2006 and endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights, providing effective domestic legal remedy to Greek Cypriot applicants for properties in the TRNC".

“As the president of the TRNC, it is my duty to protect my people,” President Tatar said. “Furthermore, I also see it as my duty to work for a sustainable future of our island, which is why I have exercised restraint to date and I have not taken reciprocate action. . . this is why these incidents must stop before it becomes too late,” he added.

“The Greek Cypriot leadership has culminated a systematic campaign with the objective of preventing foreign dignitaries from having contacts with the Turkish Cypriot side.   I wish to underline that the policy of isolation and intimidation of my people is not serving our objective of making progress on the initiatives in this new atmosphere, nor is it allowing for the creation of a conducive atmosphere between the two sides on the island, and is pushing the two sides – the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people, further apart.”

 

THERE ARE TWO STATES, TWO PEOPLES AND TWO DEMOCRACIES IN CYPRUS

President Tatar stressed that “there are two States, two Peoples and two democracies which reflect the will of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people, which have been in existence in Cyprus for the past 51 years”.

“Any future process can only be initiated upon the reaffirmation of the inherent rights of the two sides, namely sovereign equality and equal international status.  If there is to be a new and formal negotiation process, it must be based on the factual realities on the ground, treating the two sides equally, fairly, and with dignity,” he added.

 

SOME PROGRESS MADE ON INITIATIVES AGREED ON IN GENEVA IN MARCH

Stating that “despite the Greek Cypriot side’s isolation policy of my people, we have put forward a positive approach in the hope that sense and reason prevails,”  President Tatar said: “Following the informal meeting on Cyprus that was held in Geneva in March, achievements have indeed been made, and the Technical Committee on Youth has been established.  The restoration work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage on the agreed list of cemeteries is going smoothly.  On climate change, the Technical Committee on Environment started to work on the potential impact of climate change and this issue remains its focus.   On demining, our view is clear: I remain committed to a mine-free Cyprus.  I particularly value this objective as a contribution to humanity towards achieving a world free of mines.   The initiative to build a solar power plant in the buffer zone holds promise for shared benefit and environmental cooperation. However, progress has been impeded by the Greek Cypriot side’s insistence on direct control over the electricity generated, specifically its transfer exclusively into their grid. a more balanced arrangement — whereby both sides receive agreed portions of energy directly is only fair.”

 

OPENING OF NEW BORDER CROSSINGS

President Tatar explained that the initiative to open four new border crossings could not materialise even though this was one of the six initiatives which had the most potential to have an immediate impact on the daily lives of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples.

“Unfortunately, Mr Christodoulides did not fulfil his promise to propose two new border crossings. I reiterate my concrete proposal to open border crossing points with vehicles in Haspolat and Akıncılar – on the east-side of lefkoşa, that would be beneficial to both sides, address the traffic congestion in Metehan, and promote economic and social interaction between the two peoples.   The Greek Cypriot leader continues his rigid stance on “south-to-south” transit corridors which are not crossing points. My approach on these issue have always been guided by a sense of responsibility not just towards my people, but also towards the Greek Cypriot people; our island and our region.”

 

NEW INITIATIVES PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT TATAR

President Tatar stated that he had in the plenary session put forward six new initiatives to be added to the existing ones.

President Tatar said: “I have put forward six new initiative proposals which are:

1) Seismic mapping of the island of Cyprus, because earthquake preparedness has become a fundamental issue for both sides and one vital requirement is seismic mapping. 

2) Microplastics cleanup and mapping initiative, and a holistic and strategic approach to combat potential risks posed by microplastics on human health, the environment and life in general.

3)  Fundraising by the two leaders for the full restoration of cultural heritage sites and monuments, as well as missing persons.

4) Air quality monitoring initiative.

5) Co-management of fresh water resources of the island.

6) Cooperation in combating drug trafficking, which is a challenge concerning people of almost all ages.”

“Following discussions, and as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced to the press a short moment ago, we have reached a common understanding on new initiatives until our next gathering:

1.            Consultative body for civil society engagement;

2.            Exchange of cultural artifacts

3.            Air quality monitoring initiative; and

4.            Addressing microplastic pollution.”

 

Turning to energy, President Tatar noted that Cyprus still relies on fossil fuels, stating: “The whole world is transitioning. In order to reduce carbon emissions, people are turning to alternatives. Our island’s greatest natural wealth is the sun. . . so let us stop politicising this. We have transported fresh water from Türkiye just 60km away; we can feasibly connect to Türkiye through an interconnector system and solve this energy issue at its root. That would allow us to generate and sell as much solar energy as we want. There are immense opportunities here—natural gas exploration, other resources around the island. Yet, I still see the same condescending attitude: ‘You may exist under us as a community.’ We also see it in the fight against drugs—our youth on both sides are suffering, yet they refuse to collaborate with our police, claiming sole authority and sovereignty.”

President Tatar concluded: “The world is slowly beginning to understand the reality of the Island of Cyprus.  The Turkish Cypriot people have their own State, and we live freely and independently. While we can develop cooperation between the two States, we cannot sacrifice our sovereignty for the sake of a deal—because there is no going back.  Negotiations spanning more than 60 years for a federal settlement have been tried, failed and exhausted, because of the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to share power and prosperity on the basis of equality with us Turkish Cypriot People. It is high time to take a fresh new approach that is based on the factual realities of our Island. There are two States, two Peoples and two Democracies. We want a settlement that is based on peaceful co-existence and good neighbourly relations, for the best of all our children and future generations.”

President Tatar stated that the international community had not kept its promises to end the inhumane isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People that prevented them from the enjoyment of direct flights, direct trade and direct contacts. “These were also issues I raised in the meetings today,” the President said.