President Ersin Tatar on Tuesday briefed political parties about the ongoing process concerning the Cyprus issue and his meetings in New York.

The briefing meeting for political parties began at 2:30pm at the Presidency, starting with the parties represented in the Assembly.

The National Unity Party (UBP) leader and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman, Democrat Party (DP) leader and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, and the Rebirth Party (YDP) leader and Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı attended the meeting.

In his statements regarding the meeting, the President reiterated that if there is to be an agreement on Cyprus, it is necessary to accept sovereign equality and equal international status, which he described as the earned right of the Turkish Cypriots that cannot be negotiated.

Stressing that the federation option has been closed for a long time, Tatar noted that he had consistently supported the same policies since being elected to the presidency four years ago.

Stating that he conveyed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he believes in a solution through dialogue, he said, “Negotiations can be conducted even without sitting at the table. We explained once again that we will not sit at the negotiation table unless our new political approach is accepted.”

Noting that the Republic of Cyprus had transformed into a Greek Republic and that the TRNC was a Turkish state, the President added, “We have explained all this to the international community and will continue to do so.”

“We explained what a two-state policy means, including to Guterres. We said that there is no common ground to start the negotiation process. It is wrong to recognize the South as the government of all of Cyprus. Given this situation, the Greek Cypriot side will not accept sitting at the table with us on an equal basis, because you have recognized everything they do not have rights to” Tatar stated.

Stating that he accepted the trilateral meeting scheduled to take place in New York in October to explain the new political stance once again, the President said, “This is not a step back for me. If the invitation for this dinner comes, it will take place.”

“We are fighting the right fight with our motherland Türkiye. We will continue to strengthen and develop the TRNC” Tatar stressed.

He also conveyed to Greek Cypriot Leader Christodoulides that he is ready to discuss cooperation on water, energy, and cultural issues, as well as the opening of new doors between the two leaders.

President Tatar also met separately with the leader of the People’s Party, Kudret Özersay and the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Zeki Çeler.