President Ersin Tatar held a meeting with Stephen Doughty, the UK Minister of State for Europe, North America, and the Overseas Territories at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The meeting, which took place in the UK Parliament, was held in preparation for the upcoming informal meeting on Cyprus scheduled for July.

Speaking after the meeting, President Tatar stated: “It was a good meeting where I was able to express my views and concerns about the latest developments. I have always supported dialogue and believe that even in the absence of a formal settlement, we should serve as a bridge between the past and the future. However, this requires mutual respect. The Greek Cypriot side continues to view itself as the sole legitimate government of the Island, while in reality, the Turkish Cypriot people have their own State, democracy, and fully functioning state institutions. These cannot be ignored. Any future settlement must be based on two States, founded on sovereign equality and equal international status. After 60 years of failed negotiations for a federal solution, it is time to open a new chapter based on cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and good neighbourly relations between the two sides.”

President Tatar said his meeting with Mr. Doughty focused on preparations for the next informal meeting on Cyprus. Referring to their previous bilateral meeting in Geneva in March, he added: “I had raised serious concerns in Geneva about the Greek Cypriot leadership’s hostile actions and intimidation targeting my people concerning immovable property. Shortly after returning to the Island from Geneva, these actions escalated — including arrests and legal intimidation — targeting our economy. These developments are undermining the renewed efforts by the UN Secretary-General to advance the six thematic areas agreed upon in Geneva.”

He explained that there is an established legal mechanism — the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) — which offers an effective domestic legal remedy for Greek Cypriot applicants.


“The IPC, endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights, offers legal remedy based on compensation, exchange, or restitution. Despite this, the Greek Cypriot leadership has escalated tensions by initiating arrests and amending the penal code to broaden criminal liability regarding immovable property. These actions have sparked outrage among the Turkish Cypriot community and must be stopped immediately," President Tatar said.

President Tatar noted that during the informal meeting in Geneva, the sides had agreed on six cooperation initiatives, adding:  “The UN Secretary-General welcomed these as meaningful progress and a new atmosphere. We have made progress in areas such as in the Technical Committee on Youth, cemetery restoration, and repercussions on climate change. However, the Greek Cypriot leader continues to pursue policies that undermine this new effort."

President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot leader is continuing his position for South-to-South transit corridors, which are not a crossing point between the North and South.

He also highlighted the reappointment of María Ángela Holguín as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to monitor progress ahead of the July meeting.
“Despite the Personal Envoy’s efforts, the Greek Cypriot leadership continues to disrupt the positive environment described by the Secretary-General," he added.

“I reiterated the importance of opening new crossing points, and my proposal to open crossing points in Haspolat and Akıncılar, to alleviate traffic congestion in Metehan. Last year alone, there were eight million recorded crossings. The heavy traffic at the Metehan crossing has prompted joint demands from economic stakeholders and the public on both sides. Despite my constructive proposals, the Greek Cypriot side remains fixated on unrelated transit corridors," President Tatar said.

“The UK must treat both sides equally”

President Tatar called on the UK to “review its policy toward the Turkish Cypriot People,” emphasising that as a Guarantor Power, the UK has a legal and moral obligation to treat both sides on an equal footing.

“I explained today that it is regrettable the UK Government has so far failed to meet this responsibility," President Tatar said. 

He also raised the issues of direct flights, trade, and contact, reminding Minister Doughty that the international community had pledged to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people following the Annan Plan referenda in April 2004 — in which 65 per cent of Turkish Cypriots voted in favor, while 76 per cent of Greek Cypriots rejected it.

President Tatar concluded by reiterating his call for the UK to fulfill her obligations as a Guarantor Power and treat both sides of the island equitably.

President Tatar was accompanied by Çimen Keskin, Representative of the TRNC in London, Kerem Haser from the Presidency, and Esma Eroğlu.