President Ersin Tatar met with the Deputy Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas in the United Nations Department of Political and Peace building Affairs, Miroslav Jenča, on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, President Tatar said he conveyed Jenča that the Pile-Yiğitler road was being built so that the residents of Pile could access hospitals, schools and other businesses.
He explained to Jenča that the completion of this road would be beneficial for both sides, and that the UN official also viewed this idea favourably.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, President Tatar said that it was important to know if there was common ground before the New York talks, and stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side will not give up its position in favour of sovereign equality and international equal status.
The attack on the mosque in Limassol was also on the agenda of the Tatar- Jenča meeting.
It was a busy day for diplomacy on Monday as President Ersin Tatar received, the Deputy Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas in the United Nations’ Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Miroslav Jenča at the presidential palace in Lefkoşa.
The meeting, which began at 2pm was attended by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, and the Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, as well as some other UN political affairs officials.
President Tatar’s Special Representative Ergün Olgun, and other members of the negotiating team were also present at the meeting.
Issuing a brief statement after the meeting, Jenča described his meeting with President Tatar as “very productive” during which they discussed various areas of mutual benefit.
Jenča also conveyed the Secretary-General’s ongoing interest on the Cyprus issue and expressed hope for a common ground in the future to resume negotiations.
Also speaking to reporters after the meeting, President Ersin Tatar said that he had held a sincere discussion with the UN official.
Pointing out that Jenča’s visit coincided with the events at Pile, Tatar said that they had discussions on this matter as well.
The president added that he explained to Jenča that the matter was a humanitarian one and that the construction of the Pile road was meant to enable the residents of Pile to reach hospitals, schools, and other important destinations.
He pointed out that despite the humanitarian nature of the project, the Greek Cypriot side continued to carry out its own activities in the buffer zone such as erecting fences along the border.
Stressing that the completion of this road will be beneficial for both sides, Tatar said Jenča also had a positive outlook on this idea.
Referring to the importance of having a common ground before heading off to New York next month, he said that there will be no abandoning of the position in favour of sovereign equality and equal international status.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side was attempting to resume negotiations from where they left off at Crans Montana, Tatar underlined that this was not an acceptable proposition.
President Tatar explained to Jenča that the Turkish Cypriots were co-founders of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus and were by no means a minority.
Noting that they also discussed the recent attack on a mosque in Limassol during the meeting, the President condemned it as an inhumane act.
Tatar also said that he had conveyed to Jenča that the Turkish Cypriot side has always favoured a partnership, suggesting that projects such as establishing a renewable energy system in the buffer zone could be part of these efforts.