President Ersin Tatar: “We will act together with Motherland Türkiye under all circumstances”
President Ersin Tatar, who is in New York for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, evaluated his New York contacts and latest developments to TVNET live broadcast.
Referring to the call made by President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan upon the formal recognition of the TRNC at the session of the UN General Assembly, President Ersin Tatar underlined that this call made in the presence of heads of states in New York indicates once again the support of Türkiye for the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.
The President highlighted that all the endeavours carried out with regards to sovereign equality and equal international status rights of the Turkish Cypriot people continue by the support of the Republic of Türkiye. President Tatar reminded that the two sides could not reach an agreement in the federation talks which had held for years, as a result of the Greek Cypriot side’s reluctance on the concept of equality and pointed to the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side to dominate the Turkish Cypriots and to ensure the withdrawal of the Turkish troops on the island.
President Ersin Tatar underlined that following the EU membership, the Greek Cypriot side aimed to exclude the Republic of Türkiye by insisting on “zero guarantees, zero troops”.
The Republic of Türkiye supports the policy of two separate sovereign states living side by side and this is confirmed once again with the speech by President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the session of UN General Assembly yesterday, President Tatar said.
Emphasising that they are acting together with the Motherland Türkiye, the most powerful country in the region, President Tatar stated that they will continue to resist for a stronger TRNC. “The Republic of Türkiye is our Motherland and it is the most powerful country in this region,” said the President. “The security of such a powerful state and its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean doubtlessly pass through the TRNC. A recognised TRNC is very important for achieving these goals. For this reason we will continue to resist.”
President Tatar reiterated that the Republic of Türkiye protects the Turkish Cypriot people under all circumstances and they will continue to discuss with interlocutors the acceptance of sovereign equality and equal international status.
Attaching great importance to the address by the President of Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the United Nations General Assembly with regards to ending the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people as well as to confirming the sovereign equality and equal international status, President Tatar extended his thanks in this regard.
“Lifting the arms embargo of the US on the Greek Cypriot side is a wrong step”
Referring to the issue of lifting the arms embargo of the US on the Greek Cypriot side, the President said “This is a wrong step. We have conveyed our reaction to the US administration.” He added that the Republic of Türkiye will never leave the Turkish Cypriot people and will take necessary steps on this issue. Such steps including the purchase of lethal weapons taken by the US is disturbing, added the President.
“On one side Türkiye, a member of NATO; on the other side southern Cyprus, member of the EU... Paving way to a negative impact on a conflict area is not an appropriate stance for the US,” reiterated the President.
President Tatar underlined that the armament will not serve for future possible agreement process. “In my opinion, this decision exhausts the hope for an agreement,” added the President.
President Tatar pointed out that triggering conflict environment would also have negative impacts on sectors such as tourism and economy. The withdrawal of this decision is needed, the President indicated.
“We will continue to act together with Motherland Türkiye under all circumstances,” said the President. “We will never bow to the Greek Cypriot side’s intentions to make the Turkish Cypriots a minority”.