Tatar: ‘Meeting was important as it could be an opportunity for the relations between UK and TRNC after Brexit’

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar met with the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday (4^th February). President Tatar had a press conference after the meeting and said that after Brexit the UK could now cultivate important relations with the TRNC and the meeting was very important for the improvement of the relations between the UK and the TRNC.

President Tatar underlined that the UK relationship to Cyprus is very important and for overcoming the financial difficulties of the TRNC the legal background studies were already done in the Ministries for direct flights and direct trade between Britain the UK and TRNC.

President Tatar added that the UK was aware of the injustice and embargoes that Turkish Cypriots are facing and that the UK also wants to carry out some work and initiatives for Turkish Cypriots. He mentioned that as the TRNC they expect the UK to make an initiative for the properties of Evkaf and some private properties in the British Bases in Cyprus and they have received a positive reply from the UK Foreign Secretary Raab regarding preventing the unfairness Turkish Cypriots are facing.

President Tatar also reminded Raab that there are 10,000 British citizens living in the TRNC and they have heard that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University may have been provided to the Greek Cypriot side and asked Raab to consider providing the TRNC’s share of the vaccine to the TRNC. Tatar pointed out that Raab gave a positive reply to also providing vaccines to the TRNC. President Tatar finally said that Raab told him that a win-win based solution in the island would be beneficial for all parties.