Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, regarding the informal dinner invitation by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to President Ersin Tatar and the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration in New York, said, “We have clearly stated that this dinner will take place in an atmosphere where the issue of federation will not be discussed in any way.”

Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu met with Turkish press members in Washington and evaluated the current issues, as part of his contacts in the United States.

Ertuğruloğlu noted that President Ersin Tatar met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, where the main topics related to Cyprus were discussed.

Stressing that ‘the existence and sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are non-negotiable matters,’ the Foreign Minister added that their sensitivity on this issue remains unchanged.

Regarding the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ informal dinner invitation to President Ersin Tatar and the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration in New York, he said, “We have clearly stated that this dinner will take place in an atmosphere where the issue of federation will not be discussed in any way.”

Stressing that there were two separate states and two separate peoples on the island, and everyone should approach the issue accordingly, Ertuğruloğlu added that rejecting Guterres’ dinner invitation would not be appropriate, but attending the event should not be interpreted in any way as ‘negotiating a federation.’

He also stressed that no agreement would be possible through any means other than the recognition of the existence of the TRNC.

Touching upon the situation in the Middle East, Ertuğruloğlu stated that the Israeli government’s aggression was completely unacceptable, and that they were closely following the reflections of the increasing tensions in the region on the island.