President Ersin Tatar emphasises in his meeting with US officials: “Sustainable peace and stability is possible with a realistic settlement that is based on sovereign equality and two States that coexist side-by-side and in a cooperative relationship”
President Ersin Tatar received the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, overseeing the policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus Erika Olson who was accompanied by US Ambassador Judith Garber.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Special Representative Mr M. Ergün Olgun and members of the negotiating team, discussions were held on the Cyprus issue and confidence building measures.
President Tatar emphasised that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected all equality-based plans and ideas because they do not have the will or incentive to share governance and prosperity on an equal basis with the Turkish Cypriots, adding:
“Sustainable peace and stability is possible with a realistic settlement that is based on sovereign equality and two States that co-exist side-by-side which are in a cooperative relationship. The Turkish Cypriot co-owners of this island have inherent rights and are as sovereign as the Greek Cypriot people. Formal negotiations can begin once our sovereign equality has been reaffirmed.”
Explaining that the Greek Cypriot side have been “struggling to achieve ENOSIS, the annexation of the island of Cyprus with Greece,” the President said: “The Constitution of the 1960 partnership republic enshrined the equality of the co-owners, Turkish Cypriot people and Greek Cypriot people, where one side could not rule over the other. But the main objective of Archbishop Makarios was to achieve ENOSIS. The Turkish Cypriots lived through atrocities for 11 years from 1963 and we have been governing ourselves for 60-years now.” President Tatar added that “on July 15, 1974, a coup d’état was staged by the Greek Junta with the objective of achieving ENOSIS, and on July 17 of that year, Nicos Sampson – who headed the EOKA terrorist organisation, declared the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’.”
“Turkey brought real peace to the island after she carried out her obligation to restore peace on the island under the Treaty of Guarantee,” the President added. “Negotiations have failed to produce an overall settlement because of the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to share this island on the basis of equality with us. This is why, taking lessons from the past, we have put forward new ideas and adopted an ‘outside the box’ approach as requested by the UN Secretary General.”
“Turkish Cypriots have the right to self-determinate and it is our desire to coexist in peace on this island as sovereign equals,” he added. “However, we are also seeing our neighbours carry out everything in their power to enhance our isolation and to suffocate us. But we will continue to work for the strengthening and development of our State with the support of the Republic of Turkey”.
The President said that, when evaluating the Cyprus issue, it is “important to be realistic, to formulate ideas which takes into consideration the facts on the ground in Cyprus,” adding “we want good neighbourly relations. We can discuss ways of cooperating with new ideas”.
Stating that it is important to have dialogue, President Tatar added that a settlement would also be beneficial for the Greek Cypriot side, as there would be trade opportunities with Turkey which has a population of 85 million at present and located only 40 miles away from the island.
Discussions were also held in relation to the work of the bilateral technical committees, and work between the sides in respect of cultural heritage, health, environmental, communication and gender equality and the participation of women in the settlement process.
President Tatar emphasised that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected all equality-based plans and ideas because they do not have the will or incentive to share governance and prosperity on an equal basis with the Turkish Cypriots, adding:
“Sustainable peace and stability is possible with a realistic settlement that is based on sovereign equality and two States that co-exist side-by-side which are in a cooperative relationship. The Turkish Cypriot co-owners of this island have inherent rights and are as sovereign as the Greek Cypriot people. Formal negotiations can begin once our sovereign equality has been reaffirmed.”
Explaining that the Greek Cypriot side have been “struggling to achieve ENOSIS, the annexation of the island of Cyprus with Greece,” the President said: “The Constitution of the 1960 partnership republic enshrined the equality of the co-owners, Turkish Cypriot people and Greek Cypriot people, where one side could not rule over the other. But the main objective of Archbishop Makarios was to achieve ENOSIS. The Turkish Cypriots lived through atrocities for 11 years from 1963 and we have been governing ourselves for 60-years now.” President Tatar added that “on July 15, 1974, a coup d’état was staged by the Greek Junta with the objective of achieving ENOSIS, and on July 17 of that year, Nicos Sampson – who headed the EOKA terrorist organisation, declared the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’.”
“Turkey brought real peace to the island after she carried out her obligation to restore peace on the island under the Treaty of Guarantee,” the President added. “Negotiations have failed to produce an overall settlement because of the Greek Cypriot side’s refusal to share this island on the basis of equality with us. This is why, taking lessons from the past, we have put forward new ideas and adopted an ‘outside the box’ approach as requested by the UN Secretary General.”
“Turkish Cypriots have the right to self-determinate and it is our desire to coexist in peace on this island as sovereign equals,” he added. “However, we are also seeing our neighbours carry out everything in their power to enhance our isolation and to suffocate us. But we will continue to work for the strengthening and development of our State with the support of the Republic of Turkey”.
The President said that, when evaluating the Cyprus issue, it is “important to be realistic, to formulate ideas which takes into consideration the facts on the ground in Cyprus,” adding “we want good neighbourly relations. We can discuss ways of cooperating with new ideas”.
Stating that it is important to have dialogue, President Tatar added that a settlement would also be beneficial for the Greek Cypriot side, as there would be trade opportunities with Turkey which has a population of 85 million at present and located only 40 miles away from the island.
Discussions were also held in relation to the work of the bilateral technical committees, and work between the sides in respect of cultural heritage, health, environmental, communication and gender equality and the participation of women in the settlement process.