A formal process on the Cyprus problem can only begin with the confirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status, President Ersin Tatar said on Wednesday during a press conference at Ercan Airport.
A day after a dinner in New York with the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he said it had become clear after 50 years that talks on the basis of a federation had not yielded any results.
“Of course, don’t expect high hopes for the Cyprus problem after a dinner,” he told reporters, adding that there was a step taken at the dinner and a broader meeting will be held where Türkiye will also participate.
Tatar emphasized the importance of the parties discussing their positions during the meeting, noting, “For us, it is crucial that the new political approach we have maintained over the past four years—emphasizing our sovereign equality and international status—is recognized as a prerequisite for any negotiation process. We have seen over 50 years of efforts towards a federation-based agreement yield no results, most recently at Crans-Montana in 2017.”
He highlighted the 2017 failure, attributing it largely to the stance of the Greek Cypriot side, and stressed that negotiations under the same framework would be futile. Tatar reiterated the TRNC’s position during the dinner and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side maintained its stance as well.
Tatar also referenced Guterres’s statement after the dinner, acknowledging the absence of a common ground between the parties.
“This is significant for us—recognizing that there is no common ground, as also noted in the report by his envoy, Maria Angela Holguin. The acknowledgement of two distinct positions is a noteworthy diplomatic message, suggesting that the rightful stance of the Turkish Cypriot side is, in some respects, being understood,” he added.
President Tatar addressed broader geopolitical issues, mentioning the longstanding UN Security Council resolutions, the situation in Gaza, and the persistence of those resolutions despite changing global dynamics.
He questioned the relevance of insisting on solutions that align with decades-old resolutions under the current circumstances.
He also reiterated that while the TRNC remains open to informal cooperation and consultations that benefit both communities, the TRNC is cautious about resuming official negotiations. “We are open to proposals for opening new crossing points and reviewing existing ones, as well as increasing trade and other interactions with South Cyprus. However, we will refrain from engaging in official talks, as they could lead to complications,” Tatar explained.
The president noted that he might meet with the Greek Cypriot leader in Cyprus to discuss such topics and underscored the importance of economic and social cooperation between the two communities, highlighting the difficulties faced by the Turkish Cypriot side due to years of isolation and embargoes.
He pointed out that while South Cyprus has thrived economically as a recognized state, it has hindered the TRNC’s economic progress. Tatar conveyed that he had urged the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin for direct trade, direct flights, and easing embargoes, but noted that the Greek Cypriot side showed little interest in such measures.