President Ersin Tatar received the Director General of Bilateral Political Affairs and Maritime-Aviation-Border Directorate General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Ambassador Burak Özügergin and his accompanying delegation.
Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu also took part in the meeting.
According to a statement made by the Office of the President, speaking during the visit President Tatar emphasized that the negotiation process can start with the confirmation of the inherent vested rights in the context of sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Noting that the new policy on Cyprus was carried out with the full support of the Republic of Türkiye and that they would not step back from this policy, Tatar said that Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, the UN Secretary General’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, was in search of common ground in the context of inherent rights, and that such a ground has not yet been reached.
Explaining that after the UN Secretary General met with the Greek Cypriot leader in Brussels the Turkish Cypriot side requested a meeting with the Secretary General regarding equality, President Tatar stated that upon receiving an appointment they will go to New York on Friday April 5th to meet with the UN Secretary General.
Stating that the news on the Greek Cypriot side that Nikos Christodoulides accepted the proposals that the Secretary General will present to the Turkish Cypriot side on Friday and that there will be a meeting on this issue does not reflect the truth, Tatar said, “We requested this meeting. We wanted this meeting so we could explain our position in terms of ensuring equality.”
Tatar also emphasized that embargoes and isolations must be lifted if there is to be an agreement and added that they are working to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Pointing out that the Cyprus issue has become more difficult after the Greek Cypriot side was admitted to the EU, Tatar emphasized the importance of Türkiye always standing by the Turkish Cypriots.