President Ersin Tatar left Ercan Airport at 16:50 on Saturday to travel to New York via Ankara for the UN General Assembly meetings, Kibris Postasi reported.
Before departing, Tatar stated that efforts to gain recognition for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) alongside Turkey would continue on all platforms, and that they would take every opportunity to explain the TRNC’s position.
Tatar noted that the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative, Angela Holguin, had spent six months, until July, assessing the views of both sides in Cyprus and had gained a closer understanding of the two-state structure on the island.
Tatar recalled that the unjust embargo on Turkish Cypriots has been in place since 1964. He added that the political stance developed over the last four years with Turkey is becoming established and that this will be discussed again with the UN Secretary-General in New York.
He criticised Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for wanting to restart Cyprus negotiations from where they left off at Crans-Montana, arguing that this would threaten Turkey’s guarantees, the Turkish Cypriots’ veto rights, and their sovereignty.
The Cyprus talks in Crans-Montana, Switzerland took place in June and July 2017. These negotiations were part of an effort to reunify the divided island of Cyprus, involving both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, along with representatives from Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The talks ultimately failed to reach a resolution, with key issues like security, guarantees, and power-sharing remaining unresolved.
Tatar also criticised opposition leader Tufan Erhürman for attending meetings with the Greek Cypriot AKEL party in New York, accusing him of undermining the state’s position for personal gain, calling it unstatesmanlike.
Tatar reiterated that cooperation between two separate states in Cyprus could happen, but only after Turkish Cypriots’ sovereignty and equal status are acknowledged.
He added that they expect the UN to recognise the Turkish Cypriots’ rights to direct trade, flights, and contact with the world.
Tatar will brief the public on his return to the island on Sunday, September 29, and he was seen off by the Speaker of the Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister.
