The President’s Press Office has denied news published by the Cyprus News Agency in South Cyprus that claimed that “President Ersin Tatar said that his proposal for a two-state solution did not resonate in the world” by deciphering the audio recordings.
“The Cyprus News Agency made news by distorting the truth” said the Presidential statement.
The President’s Press Office issued a statement denying the news report made by the Cyprus News Agency which claimed that during an interview with President Ersin Tatar he said that his proposal of a two state solution did not resonate in the world.
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, President Ersin Tatar pointed to the necessity of an agreement for the continuation of peace and tranquillity on the island.
President Tatar made the following statements in his interview: “You see the other side still wants a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. The EU has always brought complications. They enter the EU without resolving the Cyprus issue. Then there is the Türkiye factor. Türkiye is a power here. It is the biggest leading country in the region. For me, I do not use the word recognition of my sovereignty because my sovereignty already exists. We have already said that in the end we need a treaty. Peace is very important for us. If the Turkish troops had not come here, there could have been a conflict for reasons beyond our control. And that would have been very bad.
The negotiation process has been reaffirmed by the UN Security Council and the Secretary-General, as the Secretary-General has reaffirmed, at least if common ground is found, with the confirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also said this. The Republic of Türkiye is a guarantor country, the largest country in the region. It has a say. In other words, our opponents and the press in the South of Cyprus continuously writing that Tatar is under Türkiye’s command are not true.
New politics and a new negotiation process should have started in the process in which Türkiye is also involved. We are sick and tired of hearing the same stories. Great opportunities were missed during the Annan Plan period. It is the same in Crans Montana. That is why we have come to the point of a new system and a new understanding. At this point, this policy I have put forward was supported by Türkiye. So there is no such thing as Türkiye giving me orders. I brought this policy to the agenda and I brought it to the agenda fully believing in it.
If we as Turkish Cypriots succeed in this and if we see South Cyprus understanding this, we will become stronger, we will be able to make our own state more sustainable. With neighbourly relations, even centuries later we will be able to live in much better conditions in this country. If there is no treaty and Turkish Cypriots are always oppressed and pushed and other options arise here, then Greek Cypriots should also think. Because I think this message is an important message”.
Upon being asked a question regarding whether there will be a trilateral meeting at the UN in September, Tatar said, “I have not received such information at the moment, but the UN Secretary General will probably evaluate it. We are at the point I mentioned if we want to move to official negotiations. If there is to be common ground then sovereign equality and equal international status must be accepted. These are important for us, if these are accepted, and are confirmed then we move forward” he said.