President Ersin Tatar briefs Parliamentary General Assembly in closed session on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue prior to New York visit
“We cannot commence a formal negotiations process if the basis of sovereign equality is not accepted.”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar addressed the Parliamentary General Assembly in a closed session where he underlined that a formal negotiations process with regards to the Cyprus issue cannot be commenced if the basis of sovereign equality is not accepted.
The President, who will be heading to New York next week to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, briefed Parliamentarians in the session convened specifically for the Cyprus issue.
Speaking to the press following the conclusion of the session, President Tatar underlined that he wanted to brief Parliamentarians and convey information about the Cyprus issue. He said the closed session also allowed for deputies to put forward their observations and views and to make a series of evaluations. The President added that he was also able to answer questions put to him by the Members of Parliament.
President Tatar stated that if there is to be a settlement in Cyprus, this has to be on the basis of sovereign equality, which is an inherent right of the Turkish Cypriot People, adding that this is what will be conveyed in New York.
Stating that if the inherent sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot People is not accepted, it is not possible to move forth to anew formal negotiations process. President Tatar said that this official policy is also being fully supported by Türkiye.
“As the Presidency, we are exploring how the relations between the two peoples can be developed through the work of different technical committees and how this can complement the political process that will be based on the cooperative relationship between the two Sides,” the President said.
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot Side has put forward different cooperation proposals, which includes: The issue of sharing prosperity and wealth from the natural resources around the island of Cyprus, addressing power issues through a feasible interconnection cable to the EU via the Republic of Türkiye which is only 40 miles away from the island, transition to green energy and, in recognition of the drought and shortage of freshwater, cooperation on the rational use and development of freshwater resources on the island. He said this proposal also includes sharing the water we have been receiving through underwater pipelines from Türkiye.
The President explained that there is cooperation between the two States to clear the landmines in 29 different regions, stating that the Turkish Cypriot Side has also put forward constructive proposals to address the issues arising from irregular migration.
Stating that it is not possible to accept the so called Confidence Building Measures (CBM’s) presented by the Greek Cypriot Side, President Tatar said: “The connection of the Flight Information Region (FIR) to the Greek Cypriot Side related to Ercan Airport, and the termination of the FIR cooperation we have with Ankara, is unacceptable. It is also not feasible for us to accept the so-called CBM proposal with regards to the Gazimağusa port.”
The President added that the Turkish Cypriot Side will “never accept placing Maraş outside the border and jurisdiction of the TRNC”.
“The Greek Cypriot Side’s so-called CBM proposals are aimed at perpetuating the status-quo and spreading their sovereignty over the TRNC, which we cannot and will not accept,” the President stated.
President Tatar added: “What we are trying to do in the context of technical committees at present is to enhance the cooperation of the two Sides,” adding that “six cooperation proposals were conveyed to the Greek Cypriot Side via the UN Secretary-General on July 1 and 8”.
The President added that he had also explained to Parliamentarians how and why federal based negotiations – which have been continuing for more than half-a-century -- have been exhausted due to the Greek Cypriot Side’s continuous rejection of plans and ideas on this basis.
“The Greek Cypriot Side does not have any incentive to share power and prosperity with the Turkish Cypriot Side,” the President said. “This is why so many attempts for a federal-based settlement have failed, most notably the 2004 UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan, and Crans Montana in 2017. Although the Greek Cypriot Side pays lip service to wanting a settlement, they are the Side which rejected 15 settlement plans and ideas over the past 50 years. Consequently, it is the time to open a new page for Cyprus that is forward looking, that is based on the cooperation of the two Sides, for sustainable peace and stability in our island and the region,” he said.
President Tatar said that the Greek Cypriot Side is continuing to display a mentality that is “full of traps” which has the “objective of spreading their authority over the North”. He said the Turkish Cypriot People will “never accept becoming a minority in Cyprus” because “we are one of the two equal co-owners of this island”.
The President expressed his gratitude to Parliament Speaker Zorlu Töre and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel for the invitation where he was able to express his views on the Cyprus issue and listen to the views of the Parliamentarians.