President Tatar: “We will participate in formal negotiations only after the confirmation of our sovereign equality”

In his statement to the press following his meeting with the newly elected Greek Cypriot Administration Leader Nikos Christodoulidis in the buffer zone yesterday, President Ersin Tatar said that during the meeting, he had stated to participate in formal negotiations on Cyprus issue only with the confirmation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People.

Tatar noted that the first meeting with Christodoulidis took place yesterday with the participation of the negotiators and that an acquaintance meeting was held in good faith.

The President said that everyone has responsibilities towards their own people and added that these should be taken into account with mutual respect.

He stressed that everyone was fully aware that 50 years of federal talks had all ended in failure and that a settlement on this basis was unattainable, and a settlement in Cyprus has to be based on the realities.

He further said that cooperation can be carried out on important issues such as health, criminal incidents, and quakes for the good of the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people.