President Ersin Tatar met with Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Secretary, at his office at the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Presidency this afternoon.
 
The President and the Foreign Secretary discussed the upcoming 5 plus UN unofficial meeting on the Cyprus issue, where the Turkish Cypriots, the Greek Cypriots, and the three Guarantor Powers (Turkey, Greece and the UK) will explore whether common ground exists for a new round of negotiations. 
 
The President stated he has a democratic mandate from last year’s Presidential Election to pursue an agreement in Cyprus that would be based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two sides. He explained that the significant policy change is as a result of 53 years of repeated failures in seeking a federal solution for Cyprus. 
 
The President set out areas of importance to Turkish Cypriots, notably post-Brexit trade opportunities with the UK, and ending the difficulties experienced as a result of the of disembarkation in Turkey for flights travelling from Ercan Airport to Britain.
 
Discussing the planned non-military development on Britain’s Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus, the President noted that Turkish Cypriots have extensive properties in the SBAs. He was pleased to hear the Foreign Secretary confirm these rights would be protected.
 
They noted the significant challenges facing the world during the pandemic, and the President asked for the Foreign Secretary’s assistance in obtaining the AstraZeneca 
Covid-19 vaccine for North Cyprus. 
 
The President and the Foreign Secretary concluded their meeting with a walk around the grounds of the TRNC Presidency.