Tatar: “UK has failed to display an approach that fully reflects the reality in Cyprus.”

President Ersin Tatar held a meeting with Stephen Doughty, UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, at the Presidency on Friday (March 7).

President Tatar made a statement to the press following the meeting.

President Tatar stated that the UK Minister of State had crossed to the TRNC during his visit to the Island of Cyprus, and visited him as part of the preparations for the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format that will be held in Geneva on 17-18 March.

Stating that he put forward the position of the Turkish Cypriot Side to the UK Minister of State, President Tatar said: “I explained that a new and formal process can be started following the reaffirmation of our sovereign equality and equal international status. The UK is a guarantor country and pen holder at the UN, which has historical links to the Island of Cyprus. There have been negotiations for a federal-based settlement for more than half-a-century which have failed and been exhausted.  I explained the need to think outside the box and to open a new chapter for the Island of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People.”

“The UK has failed to display an approach that fully reflects the reality in Cyprus,” President Tatar said.

Stating that “the development of the UK’s relations with Southern Cyprus in recent years, especially since the war in Gaza have been approaches that have further increased the  imbalance and inequality between the two sides in Cyprus,” President Tatar added: “Ignoring the existence of the Turkish Cypriot Side, who are one of the conflicting parties whilst strengthening relations with the other party, has served to deepen the inequality in Cyprus. This situation is not acceptable for the Turkish Cypriot People.”

At the end of his statement, President Tatar underlined that a “two State settlement, which will provide a realistic, permanent and sustainable settlement, is inevitable”.