Statement of President Ersin Tatar
President Ersin Tatar calls upon the Greek leader: “Respect the agreement on starting exhumation work at the Atlılar mass grave
President Ersin Tatar has called upon the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, to honour the agreement reached between the two Sides for the start of exhumation work at the Atlılar mass grave.
President Tatar issued a written statement where he said he was astonished to have read an earlier statement of the Greek Cypriot leader that was reported in the press – adding that he was making a statement in order to shed light on the matter and prevent the general public from being misled.
President Tatar stated that in January, a mutual agreement was reached with the Greek Cypriot member of the Committee of Missing Persons to start exhumation work at the Atlılar mass grave. However, the Greek Cypriot Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) Greek Cypriot member is now creating obstacles for the implementation of this agreement.
President Tatar stated:
“For nearly two weeks, there have been intensive discussions between our officials with the Greek Cypriot Side and the UN to secure the implementation of this agreement. Following the continuing resistance of Greek Cypriot officials on the matter, I felt the need to intervene and I held a telephone conversation with the Greek Cypriot leader yesterday. I reminded that there was already a mutual agreement between the two Sides with regards to this exhumation which needs to be started immediately, and I stated that it is essential for this important humanitarian issue to be kept free from political considerations and more importantly, that there has for many years been an expectation by the grieving relatives of the missing persons to see the start of exhumation work at Atlılar.
“I also reiterated my readiness to visit the CMP together and for us to make a joint statement that reiterates our commitment and support to the very important humanitarian works of the CMP. We in fact had conveyed a proposed draft of the joint statement to the Greek Cypriot Side via the UN two weeks ago.”
President Tatar added that “we find it unacceptable for the Greek Cypriot Side to take politically motivated acts and to take steps backward from a joint agreement with regards to the Atlılar issue. My call to the Greek Cypriot leader is to promptly turn back from this wrong decision, and for the exhumation to be started immediately and for us to visit the CMP together and for us to make a joint statement right after.”
President Tatar added that “with the acknowledgment of our sovereign equality and equal international status, we are ready to start a new negotiation process immediately”.