President Ersin Tatar received the head of the Turkish Peace Forces Veterans Association Nusrettin Yuca and his accompanying delegation on Monday.

Speaking during the visit, President Tatar underlined that the heroism of the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish soldiers has made great contributions to the national cause.

Stating that they will not sit at the negotiation table without the acceptance of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people, Tatar noted that a treaty can only be achieved on the basis of two states.

He also emphasized the importance of being recognized as a state and protecting the state established at the end of the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people and said that they continue to strengthen the state while protecting the rights and laws of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Stating that the Republic of Türkiye fully supports the policy based on two states, Tatar said that the efforts of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the acceptance of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people are of great importance for the Turkish Cypriots.

“Before returning to the negotiation table, we demand the lifting of isolations and the start of direct flights. We also demand that the Greek Cypriot side’s various restrictions and obstacles against us meeting with heads of state and the contacts of our institutions and organizations with the institutions and organizations of other countries be eliminated. Because equality requires this” said Tatar adding that only once these conditions are fulfilled will they return to the negotiating table.