President Ersin Tatar said on Friday that he will travel to Geneva to discuss the future of Cyprus, emphasizing cooperation between two states, the equality of the Turkish Cypriot people, and the lifting of what he described as unjust isolations.
He made it clear that there would be no turning back from the new political vision and that the negotiations would not resume from where they left off in Crans-Montana.
Speaking at a press conference after meetings with political parties, Tatar highlighted that he would be attending the Geneva talks with Türkiye’s full support.
He recalled that the idea of holding this meeting had initially come from him and was proposed during a visit by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Maria Holguin, on July 1, 2024.
According to Tatar, a meeting where both guarantor states would be present held significant meaning, as it would allow for a more balanced discussion on the island’s future.
Rejecting Greek Cypriot claims that the negotiations should continue from the point they were left in Crans-Montana, Tatar stated that this was entirely unacceptable to the Turkish Cypriot side.
He underscored that in Geneva, his delegation would make it clear to all counterparts that the future of Cyprus must be built on the cooperation of two distinct entities and authorities.
Reaffirming that the Turkish Cypriot side has always favoured dialogue, he pointed to the ongoing work of 12 technical committees as evidence of their constructive approach.
Tatar emphasized that his priority has always been to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
He stressed that sovereignty, equality, and the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot state were non-negotiable and that the real support needed was not from those enforcing isolation but from Türkiye, which has consistently stood by the Turkish Cypriots.
He expressed his gratitude for Türkiye’s unwavering support, particularly from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating that he was heading to Geneva with full backing from Ankara.
The Turkish Cypriot leader underlined that for any negotiation process to move forward, equality between the two sides must be confirmed from the outset.
He recalled President Erdoğan’s remarks that “negotiations must start and end on equal footing” and warned that any process lacking such balance would inevitably fail.
Regarding international engagement, Tatar noted that the United Kingdom would be represented in Geneva by its Minister for Europe and North America.
He recalled his meeting with the British official the previous Friday, during which he expressed expectations for the UK to maintain neutrality in the discussions.
Reflecting on the meeting held in New York on October 15, Tatar said three key conclusions had emerged: the lack of a common ground for launching a new process, the announcement of the informal Geneva meeting, which he regarded as a success for the Turkish Cypriot side, and an agreement to further discuss the opening of new border crossings on the island.
Expressing disappointment over the lack of progress on this issue, Tatar pointed to the growing congestion at the Metehan crossing as clear evidence of the urgent need for a new vehicle crossing in Lefkoşa.
He criticized the Greek Cypriot leadership’s refusal to consider this proposal, despite its clear benefits for both communities, describing their approach as irrational.
He stated that he had repeatedly put forward a proposal for a new crossing point, but the Greek Cypriot side had continued to reject it, opting instead for a zero-sum approach.
The matter, he said, was not closed, and he hoped the Greek Cypriot leadership would abandon its intransigent stance.
Tatar also responded to remarks made by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Hristodoulides regarding his recent visit to Türkiye, accusing him of attempting to create tensions even before the Geneva meeting took place.
However, he said he would not engage in such tactics and would instead present constructive and concrete ideas in Geneva to promote a culture of cooperation.
Calling on Hristodoulides to act responsibly, he remarked that he should refrain from behaving like a “naughty child.”
Regarding the agenda of the Geneva meeting, Tatar stated that, as outlined in UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ invitation letter, discussions would focus on how to move forward on the Cyprus issue.
He made it clear that the Turkish Cypriot side was not attending the talks to repeat past failures but rather to focus on a realistic and achievable way forward.