PRESIDENT TATAR HOLDS MEETINGS IN VIDEO CONFERENCES
PRESIDENT TATAR HOLDS MEETINGS IN VIDEO CONFERENCES
President Ersin Tatar answered the questions of Turkey's leading journalists in a video conference organised by the Journalists Association, Diplomatic Correspondents Association and the Foreign Press Association.
A DIFFERENT POLITICAL WILL HAS EMERGED FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS
President Ersin Tatar stated that a different political will has emerged after he won the election held last October, and that a new situation and understanding was being debated in relation to two States, which he said also conformed to the realities in Cyprus. He added that due to the intransigent stance and mentality of the Greek Cypriot side that has been continuing for many years, the basis for a federal model settlement has come to an end. President Tatar said: “Following the efforts of our Founding President Rauf Denktaş, which spanned for over 50 years, we have arrived at this point for the first time. This is indeed very important. At long last, the world is debating the prospect of a two State settlement in Cyprus. Visiting diplomats are taking heed of our arguments, and they agree with our reasoning. However they state that in order for a settlement to be reached, there is a need for both sides to give their approval.
Stating that no positive result has been obtained from the negotiations which have been on-going for many years, the President pointed out that in 2004, the Turkish side had said ‘yes’ to the Annan Plan and that the Greek Cypriot side was unilaterally admitted to the EU despite saying ‘no’. President Tatar also emphasised that despite the goodwill of the Turkish side, a positive outcome could not be reached in Crans Montana and the negotiations collapsed. “The Greek Cypriot side does not want to share the wealth of the Eastern Mediterranean with us.,” President Tatar said. “They want to patch us onto the Republic of Cyprus. Our understanding of a federation is very different from their understanding. Their understanding of the federation is to put us into the status of a minority and demolish Turkey’s guarantee in time,” he added.
TWO STATES CO-EXISTING SIDE BY SIDE BASED ON SOVEREIGN EQUALITY
President Tatar said: “Cyprus is not the old Cyprus; the Eastern Mediterranean is not the old Eastern Mediterranean. Conditions have changed. There is a more powerful Turkey . The rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots as part of Blue Homeland are in question. We want a settlement based on the model of two equal sovereign States that co-exist side by side, in co-operation with each other, to share the energy resources and in other issues.”
Noting that there have always been two peoples in Cyprus, and that Britain transferred the sovereignty to two peoples in the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the President underlined that a democratic structure has been established in the North, there are new generations and that the TRNC is continuing to get stronger with all its institutions and organisations.
TRNC WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN
President Tatar expressed that there are many investments in the TRNC and that with the end of the pandemic, there will be more investments in tourism, higher education and construction. He stated that the infrastructure transformations will be completed and the superstructure will be made more productive, thus attracting more tourists and students to the country. “The fact that all this is being done gives us hope,” President Tatar stated. “Our desire is to increase the welfare, to strengthen the economy, to provide more employment opportunities for our youth and have a safe, secure and high quality life. I can sincerely say that there is a tremendous energy here to help us overcome obstacles. It may be a troublesome and long process ahead of us. The right thing for us is to defend our honourable cause,” he added.
TURKEY’S SUPPORT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US
President Tatar stated that Turkey’s support to the Turkish Cypriots is continuing and with the new will in the TRNC, the relations have become stronger. President Tatar noted that the Cyprus issue is a national cause for Turkey and he expressed his belief that the hearts of the Turkish nation and Turkish Cypriots beat together.
These days have been reached because of the security and support provided by Turkey, he underlined. “Loyalty and the realities compel us to act in solidarity. Yes, we Turkish Cypriots struggled, and we survived. Turkey has made a lot of sacrifices in the same way. Turkey is a guarantor country for us and our Homeland, and she is the strongest and leading country in the region.”
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to Turkey and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, over his remarks at the Parliamentary group meeting, where he expressed his continuing support to the Turkish Cypriots,” the President added.
Referring to the vaccine issue, President Tatar said that Turkey is again standing by the Turkish Cypriots in these most difficult times, and was transporting a share of the vaccine dosages to the TRNC. He said during the visit of Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, he had received assurances that the needed amount of vaccine dosages will be supplied by April, and as a result Turkish Cypriots can also see ahead.
ECONOMY AND TOURISM WILL BENEFIT FROM MARAS
Stating that the cleaning, asphalting and infrastructure works of Maraş are continuing, President Ersin Tatar added that the work about return of properties to legal owners is continuing, and stated that the TRNC economy and tourism will benefit from Maraş. In conclusion, the President stated that legal work is continuing to open the fenced-off area to civilian life. He underlined that with this step, the norm about Maraş has been altered and that it will be beneficial to humanity.
President Ersin Tatar answered the questions of Turkey's leading journalists in a video conference organised by the Journalists Association, Diplomatic Correspondents Association and the Foreign Press Association.
A DIFFERENT POLITICAL WILL HAS EMERGED FOLLOWING THE ELECTIONS
President Ersin Tatar stated that a different political will has emerged after he won the election held last October, and that a new situation and understanding was being debated in relation to two States, which he said also conformed to the realities in Cyprus. He added that due to the intransigent stance and mentality of the Greek Cypriot side that has been continuing for many years, the basis for a federal model settlement has come to an end. President Tatar said: “Following the efforts of our Founding President Rauf Denktaş, which spanned for over 50 years, we have arrived at this point for the first time. This is indeed very important. At long last, the world is debating the prospect of a two State settlement in Cyprus. Visiting diplomats are taking heed of our arguments, and they agree with our reasoning. However they state that in order for a settlement to be reached, there is a need for both sides to give their approval.
Stating that no positive result has been obtained from the negotiations which have been on-going for many years, the President pointed out that in 2004, the Turkish side had said ‘yes’ to the Annan Plan and that the Greek Cypriot side was unilaterally admitted to the EU despite saying ‘no’. President Tatar also emphasised that despite the goodwill of the Turkish side, a positive outcome could not be reached in Crans Montana and the negotiations collapsed. “The Greek Cypriot side does not want to share the wealth of the Eastern Mediterranean with us.,” President Tatar said. “They want to patch us onto the Republic of Cyprus. Our understanding of a federation is very different from their understanding. Their understanding of the federation is to put us into the status of a minority and demolish Turkey’s guarantee in time,” he added.
TWO STATES CO-EXISTING SIDE BY SIDE BASED ON SOVEREIGN EQUALITY
President Tatar said: “Cyprus is not the old Cyprus; the Eastern Mediterranean is not the old Eastern Mediterranean. Conditions have changed. There is a more powerful Turkey . The rights of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots as part of Blue Homeland are in question. We want a settlement based on the model of two equal sovereign States that co-exist side by side, in co-operation with each other, to share the energy resources and in other issues.”
Noting that there have always been two peoples in Cyprus, and that Britain transferred the sovereignty to two peoples in the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, the President underlined that a democratic structure has been established in the North, there are new generations and that the TRNC is continuing to get stronger with all its institutions and organisations.
TRNC WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN
President Tatar expressed that there are many investments in the TRNC and that with the end of the pandemic, there will be more investments in tourism, higher education and construction. He stated that the infrastructure transformations will be completed and the superstructure will be made more productive, thus attracting more tourists and students to the country. “The fact that all this is being done gives us hope,” President Tatar stated. “Our desire is to increase the welfare, to strengthen the economy, to provide more employment opportunities for our youth and have a safe, secure and high quality life. I can sincerely say that there is a tremendous energy here to help us overcome obstacles. It may be a troublesome and long process ahead of us. The right thing for us is to defend our honourable cause,” he added.
TURKEY’S SUPPORT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US
President Tatar stated that Turkey’s support to the Turkish Cypriots is continuing and with the new will in the TRNC, the relations have become stronger. President Tatar noted that the Cyprus issue is a national cause for Turkey and he expressed his belief that the hearts of the Turkish nation and Turkish Cypriots beat together.
These days have been reached because of the security and support provided by Turkey, he underlined. “Loyalty and the realities compel us to act in solidarity. Yes, we Turkish Cypriots struggled, and we survived. Turkey has made a lot of sacrifices in the same way. Turkey is a guarantor country for us and our Homeland, and she is the strongest and leading country in the region.”
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to Turkey and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, over his remarks at the Parliamentary group meeting, where he expressed his continuing support to the Turkish Cypriots,” the President added.
Referring to the vaccine issue, President Tatar said that Turkey is again standing by the Turkish Cypriots in these most difficult times, and was transporting a share of the vaccine dosages to the TRNC. He said during the visit of Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, he had received assurances that the needed amount of vaccine dosages will be supplied by April, and as a result Turkish Cypriots can also see ahead.
ECONOMY AND TOURISM WILL BENEFIT FROM MARAS
Stating that the cleaning, asphalting and infrastructure works of Maraş are continuing, President Ersin Tatar added that the work about return of properties to legal owners is continuing, and stated that the TRNC economy and tourism will benefit from Maraş. In conclusion, the President stated that legal work is continuing to open the fenced-off area to civilian life. He underlined that with this step, the norm about Maraş has been altered and that it will be beneficial to humanity.