President Ersin Tatar on Saturday pointed out that there are two separate states, two separate peoples, and two separate democracies in Cyprus, emphasizing the right of the Turkish Cypriots to determine their own future based on sovereignty.

“Protecting our state is everyone’s responsibility. We will never compromise on our state, sovereignty, and Türkiye’s guarantee,” Tatar said as he addressed a panel titled “The Vision of a Two-State Solution” at the National Unity Party’s (UBP) Political Academy.

Tatar recounted the Turkish Cypriots’ significant struggles to prevent Cyprus from becoming solely a Greek island, emphasizing that efforts had increased sensitivity towards Cyprus in Türkiye, ensuring support for the national cause.

He also highlighted that Turkish Cypriots were equals of Greek Cypriots as co-founders of the 1960 Republic.

Tatar noted that sovereign equality derived from the 1960 agreements and recalled that Türkiye’s unilateral intervention rights are derived from the Treaties of Guarantees and Alliance, emphasizing that if there is to be an agreement in Cyprus, the unilateral guarantee of the Republic of Türkiye and the continued presence of troops as a deterrent force are red lines for the Turkish Cypriot side, from which they will never back down.

Tatar mentioned that his two-state solution policy was fully backed by Ankara and that recent initiatives to promote the existence of the TRNC had started yielding results.

“Such is the example of the TRNC’s observer membership to the Organisation of Turkic States. Since our enrolment, the TRNC’s status has significantly been upgraded,” he said, adding that there are two separate peoples, two separate states and two separate democracies in Cyprus.

“Within this framework the UBP provides a pivotal role,” he said, pointing out that during its term in office, a new airport had been gain, the Water Supply Project from Türkiye had been completed and efforts were underway to achieve interconnectivity via cable.

“We have made the voice of the Turkish Cypriots heard everywhere. We have explained to the United Nations, the European Union, and other stakeholders how we maintain our rights, our existence, and that we will not accept an agreement where the majority will govern the minority, and that we will determine our own future. As they listened, they acknowledged our rights. With the confirmation of sovereign equality and our equal international status, we will commence new and official negotiations. If there is no common ground, we will not sit at the negotiation table,” Tatar declared.

Tatar noted the lack of any results in the years-long negotiations for an agreement for a federal settlement stating, “The Greek Cypriot side does not want to share equality with the Turkish Cypriots. After Cyprus’s unilateral accession to the European Union without Türkiye’s involvement, a federal solution will remove the guarantee and military presence. Therefore, we will never compromise on our state, sovereignty, and Türkiye’s guarantee.”