President Ersin Tatar has said that Turkish Cypriots are once again facing various intrigues.

During his address, he pointed out that the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, has been tasked with assessing the possibility of common ground for restarting Cyprus negotiations.

However, Cuellar has noted the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to discuss anything other than a federation.

President Tatar underscored that any negotiations would begin with the affirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status as outlined in the 1960 founding treaties.

Speaking on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the “50th Anniversary of the Peace Operation Symposium” at the Lefke European University, President Ersin Tatar reiterated Türkiye’s role as the most significant and powerful country in the region, as well as being the guarantor nation for Cyprus and the motherland of Turkish Cypriots.

Tatar noted the repeated and fruitless attempts to reach an agreement under a federal framework, citing the Greek Cypriots’ rejection of the Annan Plan despite their unilateral accession to the European Union.

He stressed that Türkiye must not be excluded from the Eastern Mediterranean and highlighted the importance of supporting and strengthening the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as a national duty.

He affirmed that Turkish Cypriots are an integral and inseparable part of the greater Turkish nation and insisted that any agreement must include the continuation of Türkiye’s guarantor status and military presence.

President Tatar described July 20, 1974, as a pivotal moment, bringing peace, security, and stability to the island, which also benefited Greek Cypriots.

He argued that the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation not only served the Turkish Cypriots but also contributed to maintaining the balance between Türkiye and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean.

President Tatar reiterated that Turkish Cypriots have rights in the air, sea, and land of Cyprus.

He emphasized the importance of preserving their statehood, identity, traditions, and the sacrifices made by Turkish Cypriots.

Tatar also pointed out the Greek Cypriot side’s unwillingness to negotiate beyond a federal framework, a fact overlooked by Cuellar.

The president warned that a federation-based solution within the EU, excluding Türkiye, would end Türkiye’s guarantor role and lead to the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island.