President Ersin Tatar's evaluations to Milliyet newspaper about the latest developments on Cyprus
President Tatar: "Our policy on the basis of sovereign equality continues to resonate in the world."
President Ersin Tatar has said a new page must be opened and a fresh new vision put forward in relation to the Cyprus issue on the basis of two States that are in coexistence side-side in a cooperative relationship – which he said has attracted attention internationally and is resonating in the world.
The President made the remarks during an interview to Milliyet newspaper, where he referred to the five-plus-UN informal meeting to be held in Geneva on April 27-29.
President Tatar emphasised that they will go to the meeting, saying that UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has stated that "this time must be different”.
"WE NEED TO STAND UPRIGHT AND RESIST THE MEGALI IDEA OF GREECE"
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriots have never hesitated to hide their real aim which is to realise indirect Enosis with Greece through the European Union and said: “I see this clearly because I monitor the Cyprus issue very closely, I know every detail, I can foresee their intentions and spoil their games.”
President Tatar stated that the partnership treaty signed in 1960 by the two founding partners lasted less than three years and pointed out that immediately after the treaties, before the ink of his signature dried, Makarios had said: “We did not believe in it, we signed it only to make the British leave Cyprus and once the administration is handed over, our aim is to unite Cyprus with Greece”. President Tatar added: “When we look at the situation now, they are still aspiring for the Megali Idea dream to form a greater Greece. The Turkish Cypriot people need to resist this and they should stand upright, which is our position.”
INVITATION FROM PRESIDENT TATAR TO FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, JACK STRAW
Pointing out the importance of the open support attributed by prominent figures like former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for a two State settlement in Cyprus, President Tatar said: "This is essentially proof that we have achieved a success. I intend to write to Jack Straw to thank him and to invite him to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.
President Tatar said that as the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President, I would like to state that I am grateful to him and thank him for his courageous and clear statements regarding the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people”.
President Tatar said that Mr Straw is trying to take steps to prevent the continuation of the victimization of the Turkish Cypriots and that he carried out important studies on how certain restrictions and embargoes which prevent the freedom of travel of British citizens can be lifted -- to enable them and the Turkish Cypriots living in the UK to travel to the TRNC on direct flights.
President Tatar stated: "Jack Straw clearly stated that he has obtained a great deal of documents and even though his term in office was not long enough, his goal is still to achieve direct flights to North Cyprus. I was very impressed and welcome the remarks of Mr Straw. In national struggles, reaching certain objectives can be difficult to achieve and may take a long time. We have to be very patient; we should never allow ourselves to be demoralised. But this is also just a phase.”
President Tatar stated that the negotiations held on the basis of a federal understanding for the last 50 years, that is, a Cyprus that is connected to single sovereignty, where the two peoples would secure a constitutional order and equality that will be established to provide the future of the two peoples in a joint structure. . . .will remain on paper”.
“When we look at the realities of Cyprus, especially in the European Union which has Greece and Greek Cypriots as members, they would make sure that Turkey departs from Cyprus over time, leaving Turkish Cypriots isolated whilst the authority of the South is spread to the North. Their objective is to achieve this which would create a terribly distressing situation, worse than pre-1974 and even pre-1960 environment for the Turkish Cypriots.”
President Tatar stated that the United Kingdom is very familiar with the issues of Cyprus, that Jack Straw stated clearly and in no uncertain terms that settlement on a federal basis is not possible after everything that took place in Cyprus, and that if there will be an agreement, it is absolutely necessary for it to be on the basis of two sovereign States co-existing side-by-side, with equal international status. “Exactly what we are saying” said the President.
President Tatar stated that since Brexit, the United Kingdom wants direct participation in the matters in order to protect its bases in Cyprus and that both as a guarantor country, and a country outside the EU, the UK will be able to show better and more unrestricted interest in Cyprus.
"I AM THE STUDENT OF FOUNDING PRESIDENT DENKTAŞ"
President Tatar stated that the words referring to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation are only to draw the Turkish Cypriots into a trap. Emphasising that he is a student of the Founding President, Rauf Denktaş, the President added that as a person who has actively digested and apprehension of the Cyprus issue, he believes what Denktaş said which is "The whole fight is a fight for sovereignty." President Tatar stated that the only sovereignty debated is a single sovereignty which has been imposed by the Greeks, which is a trap because in a single sovereignty, the superior majority would spread their authority and rule on the minority and the weaker side. The President continued: “We will not fall into this trap. As Mr Straw says, it is necessary to create a stable Cyprus with a just, permanent and sustainable settlement and this is only possible if the settlement is based on two cooperating sovereign States co-existing side-by-side with equal international status.”
President Tatar pointed out that after the peace operation in 1974, following an international agreement signed in 1975 in Vienna, Cyprus was transformed into two regions with Turkish Cypriots settling in the north and Greek Cypriots settling in the south, adding that “Consequently, after this time, there is no meaning in a functional federation."
Underlining that if there is to be a permanent settlement it is necessary for it to be based on two separate sovereign states and added:
“If the Turkish soldiers had not come to the island, if there was no peace, there would still have been conflict here. As the Turkish Cypriots had no intention to surrender, accept their destiny and give up, the conflict would still have been continuing. If the culture of conflict had continued, there would not have been so much development and the Greek side would certainly not have developed at all. "
FIRST ROUND IN GENEVA
Referring to the five-plus-UN informal meeting to be held in Geneva on April 27-29, President Tatar said that Denktaş had always wanted a two State solution in his heart but that due to the circumstances, he was always forced to negotiate federation. President Tatar stated that there have been interesting and difficult times in the history of Cyprus and referred to the events that took place during the periods of the Annan Plan and Crans Montana. President Tatar said: “Since then the Turkish government and our side, that is the majority of Turkish Cypriots who think like me, we always said two states. We are continuing on the same line. We are preparing for the informal meeting with full support of Republic of Turkey.”
Stating that this will be the first time they will explain to the parties about the two states and sovereignty in the presence of the United Nations, President Tatar said: “This time, everyone will speak as they wish in this informal meeting. The sides will set out their own expectations and positions and seek to find a common ground for the commencement of formal negotiations in light of the realities of the whole of Cyprus."
President Tatar emphasised that they will go to Geneva to “turn a new page” and, as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated, "this time must be different".
The President made the remarks during an interview to Milliyet newspaper, where he referred to the five-plus-UN informal meeting to be held in Geneva on April 27-29.
President Tatar emphasised that they will go to the meeting, saying that UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has stated that "this time must be different”.
"WE NEED TO STAND UPRIGHT AND RESIST THE MEGALI IDEA OF GREECE"
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriots have never hesitated to hide their real aim which is to realise indirect Enosis with Greece through the European Union and said: “I see this clearly because I monitor the Cyprus issue very closely, I know every detail, I can foresee their intentions and spoil their games.”
President Tatar stated that the partnership treaty signed in 1960 by the two founding partners lasted less than three years and pointed out that immediately after the treaties, before the ink of his signature dried, Makarios had said: “We did not believe in it, we signed it only to make the British leave Cyprus and once the administration is handed over, our aim is to unite Cyprus with Greece”. President Tatar added: “When we look at the situation now, they are still aspiring for the Megali Idea dream to form a greater Greece. The Turkish Cypriot people need to resist this and they should stand upright, which is our position.”
INVITATION FROM PRESIDENT TATAR TO FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, JACK STRAW
Pointing out the importance of the open support attributed by prominent figures like former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for a two State settlement in Cyprus, President Tatar said: "This is essentially proof that we have achieved a success. I intend to write to Jack Straw to thank him and to invite him to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.
President Tatar said that as the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President, I would like to state that I am grateful to him and thank him for his courageous and clear statements regarding the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people”.
President Tatar said that Mr Straw is trying to take steps to prevent the continuation of the victimization of the Turkish Cypriots and that he carried out important studies on how certain restrictions and embargoes which prevent the freedom of travel of British citizens can be lifted -- to enable them and the Turkish Cypriots living in the UK to travel to the TRNC on direct flights.
President Tatar stated: "Jack Straw clearly stated that he has obtained a great deal of documents and even though his term in office was not long enough, his goal is still to achieve direct flights to North Cyprus. I was very impressed and welcome the remarks of Mr Straw. In national struggles, reaching certain objectives can be difficult to achieve and may take a long time. We have to be very patient; we should never allow ourselves to be demoralised. But this is also just a phase.”
President Tatar stated that the negotiations held on the basis of a federal understanding for the last 50 years, that is, a Cyprus that is connected to single sovereignty, where the two peoples would secure a constitutional order and equality that will be established to provide the future of the two peoples in a joint structure. . . .will remain on paper”.
“When we look at the realities of Cyprus, especially in the European Union which has Greece and Greek Cypriots as members, they would make sure that Turkey departs from Cyprus over time, leaving Turkish Cypriots isolated whilst the authority of the South is spread to the North. Their objective is to achieve this which would create a terribly distressing situation, worse than pre-1974 and even pre-1960 environment for the Turkish Cypriots.”
President Tatar stated that the United Kingdom is very familiar with the issues of Cyprus, that Jack Straw stated clearly and in no uncertain terms that settlement on a federal basis is not possible after everything that took place in Cyprus, and that if there will be an agreement, it is absolutely necessary for it to be on the basis of two sovereign States co-existing side-by-side, with equal international status. “Exactly what we are saying” said the President.
President Tatar stated that since Brexit, the United Kingdom wants direct participation in the matters in order to protect its bases in Cyprus and that both as a guarantor country, and a country outside the EU, the UK will be able to show better and more unrestricted interest in Cyprus.
"I AM THE STUDENT OF FOUNDING PRESIDENT DENKTAŞ"
President Tatar stated that the words referring to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation are only to draw the Turkish Cypriots into a trap. Emphasising that he is a student of the Founding President, Rauf Denktaş, the President added that as a person who has actively digested and apprehension of the Cyprus issue, he believes what Denktaş said which is "The whole fight is a fight for sovereignty." President Tatar stated that the only sovereignty debated is a single sovereignty which has been imposed by the Greeks, which is a trap because in a single sovereignty, the superior majority would spread their authority and rule on the minority and the weaker side. The President continued: “We will not fall into this trap. As Mr Straw says, it is necessary to create a stable Cyprus with a just, permanent and sustainable settlement and this is only possible if the settlement is based on two cooperating sovereign States co-existing side-by-side with equal international status.”
President Tatar pointed out that after the peace operation in 1974, following an international agreement signed in 1975 in Vienna, Cyprus was transformed into two regions with Turkish Cypriots settling in the north and Greek Cypriots settling in the south, adding that “Consequently, after this time, there is no meaning in a functional federation."
Underlining that if there is to be a permanent settlement it is necessary for it to be based on two separate sovereign states and added:
“If the Turkish soldiers had not come to the island, if there was no peace, there would still have been conflict here. As the Turkish Cypriots had no intention to surrender, accept their destiny and give up, the conflict would still have been continuing. If the culture of conflict had continued, there would not have been so much development and the Greek side would certainly not have developed at all. "
FIRST ROUND IN GENEVA
Referring to the five-plus-UN informal meeting to be held in Geneva on April 27-29, President Tatar said that Denktaş had always wanted a two State solution in his heart but that due to the circumstances, he was always forced to negotiate federation. President Tatar stated that there have been interesting and difficult times in the history of Cyprus and referred to the events that took place during the periods of the Annan Plan and Crans Montana. President Tatar said: “Since then the Turkish government and our side, that is the majority of Turkish Cypriots who think like me, we always said two states. We are continuing on the same line. We are preparing for the informal meeting with full support of Republic of Turkey.”
Stating that this will be the first time they will explain to the parties about the two states and sovereignty in the presence of the United Nations, President Tatar said: “This time, everyone will speak as they wish in this informal meeting. The sides will set out their own expectations and positions and seek to find a common ground for the commencement of formal negotiations in light of the realities of the whole of Cyprus."
President Tatar emphasised that they will go to Geneva to “turn a new page” and, as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated, "this time must be different".