Tatar: ‘It is not possible to give up equal sovereignty’
16 February, 2021Turkey looks to Cyprus to consolidate EastMed gains
22 February, 2021President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar pointed out in his written statement that the demands of the Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Nicos Anastasiades and so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicos Hristodulidis is unacceptable.
President Tatar stressed that 5+1 unofficial meeting is on the agenda however the Greek Cypriot Side’s unacceptable demands and provocations are escalating. President underlined that the Greek Cypriot Administration Leader’s impositions towards the 5+1 unofficial meeting such as ‘the UN parameters should not change, plans of the Turkish side to open Maraş and the Turkish activities in the Eastern Mediterranean should come to an end’are not acceptable.
Tatar added:
“These impositions of Anastasiades indicate the continuation of the status quo in Cyprus and are towards undermining the unofficial 5+1 meeting expected to be held.
The UN parameters, which have been on the agenda for many years regarding the Cyprus issue, have not yielded any result until today, and it has been clear that an agreement cannot be reached with these parameters.
The closed city Maraş initiative which has been determined and implemented by the Turkish Cypriot side is continuing. We as the Turkish Cypriot side will never bow down to the conditions of the Greek Cypriot side on this issue. Turkish activities continuing in the Eastern Mediterranean are also towards protecting the rights and interests of the TRNC and Turkey. Therefore we will never allow the Greek Cypriot side to own the energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean unilaterally and violate the rights of the TRNC and Turkey.”
Referring to the Greek Cypriot Administration Foreign Minister Nicos Hristodulis’ statement that there is no solution ground other than the federation, Tatar said: “However our point of view is a solution model based on the cooperation of two sovereign states that have equal rights and live side by side. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also stated after the Crans Monta talks which collapsed due to the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigence that new ideas on the Cyprus issue could also come to the table. The solution model based on the cooperation of two sovereign equal states has also been brought to the agenda by the Turkish Cypriot side as a new idea and a new way, and it will be brought to the table at the unofficial 5 + 1 meeting and we will not take steps backward from this.”
Calling to the Greek Cypriot side to give up their malicious and out-dated mentality, impositions and unacceptable conditions and to help open the way to dialogue, Tatar said: “The solution model based on the cooperation of two sovereign equal states which is also supported by the region’s greatest and most powerful country Turkey is the most realistic model that will be for the benefit of Cyprus and the region.”