President Tatar meets with Spehar
President Ersin Tatar received UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) in Cyprus and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar.
Making a statement following the meeting, President Tatar said that the details of the report presented within the framework of the UN Peacekeeping Force and the Mission of Good Offices have been discussed during the meeting with United Nations Secretary General Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar.
The President stated that they had the opportunity to discuss the stance and expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side towards the five-plus-UN conference and reiterated that the negotiations that have been ongoing for the past 50 years for a federal settlement have not produced a result.
He expressed that they envisaged a “formal negotiation process after the five-plus-UN conference within the framework of sovereign equality, where there are two States coexisting side-by-side and are in cooperation with each other”.
President Tatar added that they are currently in a preparatory period and depending on the course of the pandemic, they are working to organise a five-plus-UN conference for either the end of February or beginning of March.
"WE ASKED UN HELP FOR ARRANGING THE NECCESARY GROUND FOR VACCINES COMING FROM EU"
Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side has demonstrated its goodwill as regards the Technical Committees to effectively work and achieve beneficial results, President Tatar said that they asked the UN to help with forming the basis to facilitate the delivery of the vaccines from the EU. President Tatar added that according to the report presented by the relevant Technical Committee this morning, there is an expectation that the vaccines from the EU will be delivered to the Turkish Cypriot side via the Greek Cypriot Administration . . . however, we have been told that the vaccines would be delivered to us from the EU. We informed the UN that the matter should be monitored by the Technical Committee on Health.”
Stating that the UN's responsibility is to provide contribution for benefits to be achieved by mediating between the parties, President Tatar stated said that Spehar clearly understood the position of the Turkish Cypriot side during the meeting. Pointing out that the UN is also closely following the situation, President Tatar added: “Cyprus is not the same Cyprus as it was before. The Eastern Mediterranean is not the same Eastern Mediterranean as it was before. There are major regional issues. There is the position of Turkey. There is the struggle we have been waging the last 50 years”.
NEGOTIATING WITHIN A GOODWILL FRAMEWORK ON THE BASIS OF TWO STATES OF THE SAME STATUS COEXISTING SIDE-BY-SIDE
President Tatar stated that in respect of international status, it is possible for two States with the same status, coexisting side by side based on sovereign equality in cooperation with each other, to meet at the negotiating table with mutual goodwill. He added that it is necessary for the grounds for this to be strengthened for a fair, permanent and sustainable agreement to be possible in Cyprus. Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side and the Republic of Turkey are giving the same message, the President drew attention to the statement made by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, last night. The President also pointed out that during the visit of TRNC Foreign Affairs Minister, Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu to Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, also made statements to this effect.
THE EU IS NOT PART OF THE FIVE-PLUS-UN CONFERENCE
The President stated that the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot people and their future perspectives were conveyed in the clearest way possible to New York, Washington and other relevant authorities. Stating that the EU is not a part of five-plus-UN Conference, he touched on the issue of Confidence Building Measures (CBM), adding: “The fundamental essence of the Cyprus problem is significant for us. This is an issue that will be discussed directly in the five-plus-UN conference. Raising the matter of CBMs will only serve to cause a diversion at this meeting. Therefore, we stated that we would not accept the issue of CBMs to be on the agenda in this meeting.”
President Tatar said that the goodwill of the UN is important and if there is to be an agreement in Cyprus, it is necessary for the UN to deal with mediation in an impartial manner in all developments. Referring to the injustice arising from the recognition of the Greek Cypriot side as the only government, the President said that they continue to evaluate the situation to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
“THE PRESENCE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE IS ESSENTIAL FOR US”
Stating that a new page has been opened with his election as President, he reiterated that the promises made to the Turkish Cypriots were not kept and that despite the flexibility shown by the Turkish side in Crans Montana, the Greek Cypriot side has not reciprocated.
Emphasising that “the existence, sovereignty and independence of the Turkish Cypriot people are a significant matter for us”, President Tatar stated that they have announced to the whole world that they envisage two States coexisting side-by-side based on sovereign equality in cooperation with each other.
“FULL COMPLIANCE WITH MOTHERLAND TURKEY”
President Tatar emphasised that there are two equal peoples in Cyprus. Commemorating the ninth anniversary of the death of the Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, the President reiterated the import role Mr Denktaş had played in securing the active and effective guarantees of Turkey.
The President stated that with the establishment of the TRNC, the negotiations pursued were between two equal peoples. Referring to the struggle relating to the opening of Maraş, the President underlined that they are in full compliance with motherland Turkey in the struggle.
President Tatar concluded his words by stating that as the world’s perception now is favorable to the idea of sovereign equality, we have come to a good point and we can look at the future with hope.
The President stated that they had the opportunity to discuss the stance and expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side towards the five-plus-UN conference and reiterated that the negotiations that have been ongoing for the past 50 years for a federal settlement have not produced a result.
He expressed that they envisaged a “formal negotiation process after the five-plus-UN conference within the framework of sovereign equality, where there are two States coexisting side-by-side and are in cooperation with each other”.
President Tatar added that they are currently in a preparatory period and depending on the course of the pandemic, they are working to organise a five-plus-UN conference for either the end of February or beginning of March.
"WE ASKED UN HELP FOR ARRANGING THE NECCESARY GROUND FOR VACCINES COMING FROM EU"
Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side has demonstrated its goodwill as regards the Technical Committees to effectively work and achieve beneficial results, President Tatar said that they asked the UN to help with forming the basis to facilitate the delivery of the vaccines from the EU. President Tatar added that according to the report presented by the relevant Technical Committee this morning, there is an expectation that the vaccines from the EU will be delivered to the Turkish Cypriot side via the Greek Cypriot Administration . . . however, we have been told that the vaccines would be delivered to us from the EU. We informed the UN that the matter should be monitored by the Technical Committee on Health.”
Stating that the UN's responsibility is to provide contribution for benefits to be achieved by mediating between the parties, President Tatar stated said that Spehar clearly understood the position of the Turkish Cypriot side during the meeting. Pointing out that the UN is also closely following the situation, President Tatar added: “Cyprus is not the same Cyprus as it was before. The Eastern Mediterranean is not the same Eastern Mediterranean as it was before. There are major regional issues. There is the position of Turkey. There is the struggle we have been waging the last 50 years”.
NEGOTIATING WITHIN A GOODWILL FRAMEWORK ON THE BASIS OF TWO STATES OF THE SAME STATUS COEXISTING SIDE-BY-SIDE
President Tatar stated that in respect of international status, it is possible for two States with the same status, coexisting side by side based on sovereign equality in cooperation with each other, to meet at the negotiating table with mutual goodwill. He added that it is necessary for the grounds for this to be strengthened for a fair, permanent and sustainable agreement to be possible in Cyprus. Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side and the Republic of Turkey are giving the same message, the President drew attention to the statement made by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, last night. The President also pointed out that during the visit of TRNC Foreign Affairs Minister, Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu to Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, also made statements to this effect.
THE EU IS NOT PART OF THE FIVE-PLUS-UN CONFERENCE
The President stated that the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot people and their future perspectives were conveyed in the clearest way possible to New York, Washington and other relevant authorities. Stating that the EU is not a part of five-plus-UN Conference, he touched on the issue of Confidence Building Measures (CBM), adding: “The fundamental essence of the Cyprus problem is significant for us. This is an issue that will be discussed directly in the five-plus-UN conference. Raising the matter of CBMs will only serve to cause a diversion at this meeting. Therefore, we stated that we would not accept the issue of CBMs to be on the agenda in this meeting.”
President Tatar said that the goodwill of the UN is important and if there is to be an agreement in Cyprus, it is necessary for the UN to deal with mediation in an impartial manner in all developments. Referring to the injustice arising from the recognition of the Greek Cypriot side as the only government, the President said that they continue to evaluate the situation to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
“THE PRESENCE OF THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE IS ESSENTIAL FOR US”
Stating that a new page has been opened with his election as President, he reiterated that the promises made to the Turkish Cypriots were not kept and that despite the flexibility shown by the Turkish side in Crans Montana, the Greek Cypriot side has not reciprocated.
Emphasising that “the existence, sovereignty and independence of the Turkish Cypriot people are a significant matter for us”, President Tatar stated that they have announced to the whole world that they envisage two States coexisting side-by-side based on sovereign equality in cooperation with each other.
“FULL COMPLIANCE WITH MOTHERLAND TURKEY”
President Tatar emphasised that there are two equal peoples in Cyprus. Commemorating the ninth anniversary of the death of the Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, the President reiterated the import role Mr Denktaş had played in securing the active and effective guarantees of Turkey.
The President stated that with the establishment of the TRNC, the negotiations pursued were between two equal peoples. Referring to the struggle relating to the opening of Maraş, the President underlined that they are in full compliance with motherland Turkey in the struggle.
President Tatar concluded his words by stating that as the world’s perception now is favorable to the idea of sovereign equality, we have come to a good point and we can look at the future with hope.