Statement of President Ersin Tatar following his meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York
“The future of Cyprus will be shaped through cooperation between two States”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar has held a bilateral meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York.
Following the meeting, which was held at the UN Headquarters, the President made a statement with regards to the Cyprus issue.
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General for his hospitality and for his valuable efforts toward building trust and cooperation in Cyprus. He also praised the contributions of María Ángela Holguín, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, for her role in the agreed initiatives and her preparations for the tripartite meeting tomorrow.
Stating that he has "arrived in New York during perhaps one of the most crucial UN General Assembly meetings of our times," President Tatar underlined that the "People of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are following the unfortunate developments unfolding in the Middle East, and in particular the genocide committed by Israel in Palestine closely and with grave concern as well as great sadness".
"I fully welcome the timely decision of several countries to formally recognise the State of Palestine and support a two State solution in the Middle East," President Tatar said.
President Tatar also expressed his "sincere appreciation to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, who once again called upon the international community to formally recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and for the inhumane isolation to be ended," during his address at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
"Negotiations on the federal basis have been exhausted”
President Tatar recalled that during the informal meeting in Geneva in March and the 5+UN meeting in New York in July, both sides acknowledged the need to pursue new initiatives and foster cooperation.
He affirmed his intention to attend the tripartite meeting tomorrow with "goodwill and optimism", noting that the "agenda will include practical issues -- such as the opening of new border crossing points, that directly improve daily life". The President stressed that he came to New York to "reaffirm the constructive stance of the Turkish Cypriot side, making his position clear".
“The two peoples of Cyprus must urgently cultivate a culture of cooperation," President Tatar said. "Negotiations based on the federal basis, pursued for over half a century, have failed. That basis is now exhausted.”
He reminded that every attempt since 1968, including the 2004 UN Comprehensive Settlement (Annan) Plan and the 2017 Crans-Montana negotiations ended with the rejection by the Greek Cypriot side, adding: “The Greek Cypriot side has no will to share power and prosperity on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot people.”
He added that the Turkish Cypriot people are "still waiting for the international community to honour its promises to end the inhumane isolation and respect our basic human rights, including our right to enjoy direct trade, direct flights, and direct contacts".
Calling upon the international community, President Tatar stated that long-standing promises be fulfilled: the lifting of isolation, for direct trade, direct flights, and direct contacts.
He stressed: “On the island of Cyprus, there exist two peoples and two States, each with its own democratic institutions, identity, and aspirations. A lasting settlement is only possible on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.”
“Cooperation is a necessity”
President Tatar stressed: "In this spirit, cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the fields of trade, public health, the environment, and resource management should become the shared priority. Challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and energy security show us that cooperation is not optional, but essential."
President Tatar concluded that "until a political settlement is achieved, constructive arrangements that promote interaction on the basis of equality, dignity and mutual respect are needed," adding: "This is the position that I will continue to pursue at the trilateral meeting tomorrow as well as in the months ahead".
Following the meeting, which was held at the UN Headquarters, the President made a statement with regards to the Cyprus issue.
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General for his hospitality and for his valuable efforts toward building trust and cooperation in Cyprus. He also praised the contributions of María Ángela Holguín, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, for her role in the agreed initiatives and her preparations for the tripartite meeting tomorrow.
Stating that he has "arrived in New York during perhaps one of the most crucial UN General Assembly meetings of our times," President Tatar underlined that the "People of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are following the unfortunate developments unfolding in the Middle East, and in particular the genocide committed by Israel in Palestine closely and with grave concern as well as great sadness".
"I fully welcome the timely decision of several countries to formally recognise the State of Palestine and support a two State solution in the Middle East," President Tatar said.
President Tatar also expressed his "sincere appreciation to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, who once again called upon the international community to formally recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and for the inhumane isolation to be ended," during his address at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
"Negotiations on the federal basis have been exhausted”
President Tatar recalled that during the informal meeting in Geneva in March and the 5+UN meeting in New York in July, both sides acknowledged the need to pursue new initiatives and foster cooperation.
He affirmed his intention to attend the tripartite meeting tomorrow with "goodwill and optimism", noting that the "agenda will include practical issues -- such as the opening of new border crossing points, that directly improve daily life". The President stressed that he came to New York to "reaffirm the constructive stance of the Turkish Cypriot side, making his position clear".
“The two peoples of Cyprus must urgently cultivate a culture of cooperation," President Tatar said. "Negotiations based on the federal basis, pursued for over half a century, have failed. That basis is now exhausted.”
He reminded that every attempt since 1968, including the 2004 UN Comprehensive Settlement (Annan) Plan and the 2017 Crans-Montana negotiations ended with the rejection by the Greek Cypriot side, adding: “The Greek Cypriot side has no will to share power and prosperity on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot people.”
He added that the Turkish Cypriot people are "still waiting for the international community to honour its promises to end the inhumane isolation and respect our basic human rights, including our right to enjoy direct trade, direct flights, and direct contacts".
Calling upon the international community, President Tatar stated that long-standing promises be fulfilled: the lifting of isolation, for direct trade, direct flights, and direct contacts.
He stressed: “On the island of Cyprus, there exist two peoples and two States, each with its own democratic institutions, identity, and aspirations. A lasting settlement is only possible on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.”
“Cooperation is a necessity”
President Tatar stressed: "In this spirit, cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the fields of trade, public health, the environment, and resource management should become the shared priority. Challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and energy security show us that cooperation is not optional, but essential."
President Tatar concluded that "until a political settlement is achieved, constructive arrangements that promote interaction on the basis of equality, dignity and mutual respect are needed," adding: "This is the position that I will continue to pursue at the trilateral meeting tomorrow as well as in the months ahead".