In his written statement, President Tatar said:
“I am dismayed by Josep Borrell’s comments. As the EU’s High Representative, he portrays himself as a defender of contemporary values, yet his reaction to my participation in the OTS summit is deeply regrettable.
While we have advocated for diplomacy and dialogue, the EU has only intensified its longstanding bias towards the Greek Cypriot administration, pushing these limits even further.
The Turkish Cypriot community has endured exclusion from fundamental human rights for over 60 years due to outdated and unjust isolation. This raises serious doubts about the EU’s true intentions, despite its declarations of support for equality, which ring hollow in light of its actions.
The EU must recognise the reality that Cyprus is home to two States, two Peoples, and two Democracies. Their rhetoric and decisions cannot alter these facts on the ground.
The decision to admit the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus as an EU member—against the Union’s own criteria and prior to a settlement of the Cyprus issue—was a political move that imported this unresolved conflict into the EU.
No new formal negotiation process will begin until the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot People—namely, sovereign equality and equal international status—are acknowledged and respected.
It is time to foster a culture of cooperation on the island. The Turkish Cypriot Side remains committed to promoting good neighbourly relations between the two States.
Let me emphasise that our State is a valued member of the Organisation of Turkic States and the broader Turkic World. We will continue to be represented wherever we are invited. Our struggle is substantial, and our journey is challenging. Yet, with the unwavering support of Motherland Türkiye, we will continue to move forward.”
