President Ersin Tatar is in New York to hold talks within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

President Tatar who held a press conference at Ercan Airport before departing for New York said that it was not possible to reach a settlement that did not respect the authority of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side was in favour of communication and dialogue, Tatar said, “We are seriously looking for a basis for consensus within the framework of our principles, but the TRNC must be accepted as a reality. We will explain this to our interlocutors in New York. We will be there to convey our views to everyone we meet with.”

Tatar said that he will raise the Turkish Cypriot people’s just struggle during his meetings in New York.

He also noted that they will meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a face-to-face meeting on Saturday, September 23.

Stressing that there was no change in the Turkish Cypriot side’s policy on the Cyprus issue, Tatar said that they will not proceed to formal negotiations without the confirmation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the TRNC.

Stating that the global landscape was changing and that there was no going back from the current policy, the president said that Türkiye’s full support was a sign that the Turkish Cypriot side was on the right track.

“The other side is playing a game,” Tatar said, adding that an attempt was being made to re-launch the process from where the talks had collapsed at Crans Montana in 2017.

“It is clear and obvious that they are trying to break our ties with motherland Türkiye and trying to force us into a unitary structure. We will never fall for this game. For 60 years, we have been walking our own path under the roof of our own state. If we want to live free, independent, and with our dignity in the future, we must pay attention to the fundamental criteria,” the president added.

Explaining that prior to the trip to New York, he had consultations with the government, political party leaders, and officials from the Republic of Türkiye, Tatar said that in New York, they will seek opportunities to explain the case, the just struggle of the Turkish side, and the fundamental parameters of the Turkish Cypriot side’s new policy.

Noting that there will be meetings at the Türkevi (Turkish House) belonging to the Republic of Türkiye, where the TRNC’S Representation Office is located, Tatar said that in addition to meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, he will be meeting with officials from the Organisation of Turkic States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as representatives from other countries.

The president also noted that the Greek Cypriot leader was attempting to convey messages to the Turkish Cypriot side through various channels.

“We know very well what these messages are. If there was a sincere approach, the Turkish Cypriot people wouldn’t have been subjected to such ruthless isolation and embargoes despite all these developments. Today, various attempts are being made to prevent the recognition of our universities and to hinder our economic development. They are trying to weaken the ground of the TRNC by attempting to draw individuals to the so-called Republic of Cyprus with a 14-point plan” Tatar said.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side had tabled certain proposals through the UN in the July of last year, he reminded that these proposals encompassed natural resources and hydrocarbons, renewable energy and solar power, transitioning to an interconnected system, sharing of water, addressing irregular migration, and demining efforts.

“Our proposals were drafted by taking into account the sensitivities in Cyprus, which is that one side cannot have superiority over the other. This is the essential critical point of the Cyprus issue, the mutual respect between the two sides, and the recognition by the other side that we are also a state, an authority, and that we have sovereignty. It is at this point that we cannot reach an agreement. The other side has never accepted us within an agreement based on equality,” the president noted.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side was in favour of communication and dialogue, Tatar said, “We are seriously looking for a basis for consensus within the framework of our principles, but the TRNC must be accepted as a reality. We will explain this to our interlocutors in New York. We will be there to convey our views to everyone we meet with.”

President Tatar is being accompanied by his Special Representative Ergün Olgun and Confidence-Building Measures and Bicommunal Technical Committees Coordinator Güneş Onar.