President Ersin Tatar participated in a roundtable meeting organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for TRNC (APPG TRNC) in Parliament.

The one-hour long meeting was attended by Lord Hussain, Baroness Sarah Ludford, Lord Kamall, and Nesil Çalışkan MP,  Tahir Ali MP and Imran Hussain MP.

President Tatar began his speech by congratulating Nesil Çalışkan on becoming the first woman of Turkish Cypriot descent to have been elected as a Member of Parliament and wished her success and thanked the APPG TRNC “for the years of lobbying that has highlighted the plight and injustice faced by the Turkish Cypriot People, who continue to be deprived of even having a voice on many international platforms”.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot people continue to be isolated and are deprived of basic human rights, President Tatar said: “The international community made many undertakings to end our isolation during the Annan Plan period in 2004, however these promises to end our isolation, and restrictions have not been honoured. It is high time that the facts on the ground in Cyprus are considered when looking at how we can move forward, if we want a long-lasting and viable settlement.  We have stated that it is time to think outside the federal box. There are two States in Cyprus.  The Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots can coexist as good neighbours in a cooperative relationship, that will be of benefit to both Sides. A solution will also be beneficial for the Greek Cypriot Side, as it would allow for cooperation in natural resources and energy.”

President Tatar underlined the importance “for the United Kingdom (UK), as a guarantor power, to treat the two Sides in Cyprus on an equal basis,” adding: “I hope that the new UK Labour Government will be able to take a fresh look at the inhumane isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, and the need to end these unjust restrictions by starting direct flights and direct trade.”