Turkish Cypriot President stands firm on sovereignty in UN talks

President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) firmly reiterated his government's position on sovereignty and equal international status during Wednesday's talks with Maria Angela Holguin, the Personal Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Cyprus.

In the hour-long meeting, President Tatar expressed the necessity of recognizing Turkish Cypriot sovereignty as a foundation for future negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side.

"Without the confirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status, initiating negotiations is futile," he stated.

These discussions come at a critical juncture, as Holguin's term concludes on July 5. Tatar emphasized the importance of an unbiased report, which should accurately represent the Turkish Cypriot viewpoints. "I conveyed to the U.N. that there is no change in our stance," Tatar said, stressing the TRNC's consistent policy of maintaining its sovereignty and rights.

The backdrop of these negotiations includes contentious historical decisions, such as the unilateral EU accession of the Greek Cypriot south following the rejection of the Annan Plan, which proposed a reunification of Cyprus.

Tatar explained that these actions have led to years of isolation and embargoes against the Turkish Cypriots.

Tatar also pointed out the international challenges faced by the TRNC, citing attempts to block Turkish Cypriot engagements on the global stage. "They do the same to the Turkic world. With this mentality, what will we solve, and on what basis? Sitting at the table does not solve anything; the essence is changing the mentality," he explained.

While interacting with the press, Tatar shared his views on the required approach for future talks. "If there is no common ground, there is no meaning in starting a meeting and another round of talks," he remarked, underscoring the need for a negotiation process that recognizes the rights and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people.

For her part, Holguin recognized the need for international support to resolve Cyprus but emphasized the leaders' responsibility to listen to their people and seek actionable solutions.

"Everybody wants to move forward in the whole island. So now the responsibility of the leaders is to do something, and I hope they can listen to people," she said in her statement.

As her visit extends to May 14, Holguin's ongoing dialogue and the forthcoming report will likely influence the trajectory of future negotiations and the potential for progress on this decades-long issue.

Source: Newsroom