President Ersin Tatar holds press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva following the conclusion of the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format
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President Ersin Tatar held a press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva following the conclusion of the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format, that was hosted by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The President expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for convening the informal meeting and the Swiss Government for their hospitality, and thanked all participants and the members of the press.
President Tatar said: “I have participated in the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format with a positive and constructive attitude towards building a sustainable future, in the hope that we can leave behind the conflictual relationship and look ahead, and open a new page for our Island of Cyprus based on mutual interest, and to coexist as good neighbours, and to seek ways of creating a culture of cooperation between the two Sides. Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot people deserve better. We want the best for our children and for future generations. Negotiations for a federal based settlement have failed and have been exhausted to the 62-year-old Cyprus issue.”
Stating that “it was in this very building where I, almost four years ago, first put forward my vision and position for a new model as a basis for a settlement that is based on sovereign equality and equal international status,” President Tatar said: “ Since then, we have come a long way . . . the former Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Ms. Holguin, carried out an exploration exercise last year where she concluded that no common ground exists between the two Sides to start a new and formal negotiations process. The Turkish Cypriot People have withdrawn their consent for federal-based negotiations. Our position, which is fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye, is that new and formal negotiations can be started following the reaffirmation of our sovereign equality and equal international status. This informal meeting was convened by the UN Secretary-General to allow for meaningful discussions to be held between the respective parties with regards to the future of our Island. From our point of view, and as I have repeatedly stated, I have placed great importance on cooperation between the two Sides. I did not come here to talk about continuing negotiations from Crans-Montana on the exhausted basis as was the publicly stated objective of the Greek Cypriot leadership.”
“I have come to Geneva with a positive and constructive agenda”
President Tatar underlined that, in the absence of common ground to start new and formal negotiations on the Cyprus issue, he participated in the informal meeting “with a positive and constructive agenda” on the invitation of the Secretary-General, to hold “meaningful discussions to finding a mutually acceptable way forward in the Cyprus issue”.
“I have listened to the Greek Cypriot leader, who has stated once again, that negotiations can only be started from the point that was left in Crans-Montana – almost eight years ago – on the failed and exhausted basis that has simply not worked for more than half-a-century,” President Tatar said, adding: “However, as I have said, I came here with a positive and constructive agenda, with high hopes, determined to put forward a fresh new approach and policy on the next steps ahead, that is based on achievable successes. This has been the focal point of why I have participated in this informal meeting. My proposals are aimed at the development of a culture of cooperation that will pave the way for an eventual negotiated settlement, notwithstanding the fact that the main impediment to a settlement has been the inequality of status between the two Sides."
“My new proposal for a sustainable future”
Explaining that he has “always been open to dialogue and peaceful coexistence that is to the benefit of both the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People”, President Ersin Tatar said: “I have today put forward a fresh new proposal: The creation of a Cyprus Cooperation Council (CCC), following my reflection on where we came from, where we are today, how we can become a bridge for a sustainable future that is based on peaceful and prosperous coexistence. I am disappointed that, despite urging my Greek Cypriot counterpart to reflect on my proposal, he flatly rejected it. The Cyprus Cooperation Council would help bridge our differences so as to create a common ground for the common good, in line with the call of the UN Secretary-General in his written statement on 15 October 2024.”
President Tatar elaborated on the details of his CCC proposal, adding: “I proposed cooperation on:
i) Banking and Financial Transactions
ii) Trade
iii) Tourism
iv) Offshore Energy Resources
v) Electricity Interconnectivity to the EU Grid
vi) Irregular Migration
vii) Transition to Green Energy
viii) Judicial Matters
ix) Climate change
x) Management of freshwater resources of the Island
xi) Joint action on Humanmade and Natural Disasters and
xii) Demining
The CCC will be composed of the two Leaders, the two Negotiators and the relevant thematic team leaders. . . I presented my views as to how this Council can also be utilised as a platform to settle any dispute by peaceful means through diplomacy and dialogue. However, as I said, this proposal has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot leader today.”
Lifting of inhumane isolation
President Ersin Tatar stated that he had also during the plenary session and his other bilateral meetings stressed the need for the inhumane isolation on the Turkish Cypriot People to be lifted.
“The promises by the international community to end our isolation have not been honoured, and this situation is depriving the Turkish Cypriot People from the enjoyment of their basic human rights, including in direct flights, direct trade and direct contacts,” President Tatar said.
“It has been 62 years since the Turkish Cypriot people were left out from the international system. The continuation of this injustice is the main reason why a settlement to the Cyprus issue has not been found to date,” the President added.
President Tatar added that he had also put forward the issue of direct flights, direct trade and direct contacts (3Ds) – and that he had stated to Ms. Holguin during her tenure that the “3D” acceptance would be accepted as being a manifestation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People.
Agreements reached in the informal meeting
President Tatar underlined the need to develop a culture of cooperation between the two Sides, adding that he has given approval for the opening of four new crossing points, demining, creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change including the impacts on mining areas, solar energy in the buffer zone and the restoration of cemeteries.
“We discussed each of these cooperation areas and agreed to move forward in a manner that will be of benefit to the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar stated that the idea of both sides benefiting from solar energy with new projects supported by the European Union in the Buffer Zone was on the agenda, and that the Greek Cypriot side also looked favourably on the idea of “getting rid of power plants running on fuel oil by an interconnection system of the Island to the EU grid”.
“We have been informed that the EU will make a decision on the interconnection proposal at a later date,” the President said.
Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to be appointed
President Ersin Tatar stated that the UN Secretary General will be appointing a Personal Envoy to handle the next steps on these issues.The President added that an agreement was also reached for another informal meeting to be held in the same format at the end of July.President Tatar reiterated that continuing the Cyprus negotiation process from Crans-Montana is “out of the question” which was a point made clear during the plenary session. “A realistic and sustainable settlement in Cyprus can only be found on a two State model that is based on sovereign equality. We will not abandon this position,” the President said.
President Tatar reiterated that he made a proposal for the creation of a Cyprus Cooperation Council to increase the quality of life of the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People, but that this was flatly rejected, and pointed out that “we are ready to cooperate on trade, energy and water issues with the support of Türkiye, and we are open to discussing other areas of cooperation and initiatives."
The President emphasised that the informal meeting was “both important and meaningful”, and he thanked everybody for their contributions.
The President expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for convening the informal meeting and the Swiss Government for their hospitality, and thanked all participants and the members of the press.
President Tatar said: “I have participated in the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format with a positive and constructive attitude towards building a sustainable future, in the hope that we can leave behind the conflictual relationship and look ahead, and open a new page for our Island of Cyprus based on mutual interest, and to coexist as good neighbours, and to seek ways of creating a culture of cooperation between the two Sides. Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot people deserve better. We want the best for our children and for future generations. Negotiations for a federal based settlement have failed and have been exhausted to the 62-year-old Cyprus issue.”
Stating that “it was in this very building where I, almost four years ago, first put forward my vision and position for a new model as a basis for a settlement that is based on sovereign equality and equal international status,” President Tatar said: “ Since then, we have come a long way . . . the former Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Ms. Holguin, carried out an exploration exercise last year where she concluded that no common ground exists between the two Sides to start a new and formal negotiations process. The Turkish Cypriot People have withdrawn their consent for federal-based negotiations. Our position, which is fully supported by the Republic of Türkiye, is that new and formal negotiations can be started following the reaffirmation of our sovereign equality and equal international status. This informal meeting was convened by the UN Secretary-General to allow for meaningful discussions to be held between the respective parties with regards to the future of our Island. From our point of view, and as I have repeatedly stated, I have placed great importance on cooperation between the two Sides. I did not come here to talk about continuing negotiations from Crans-Montana on the exhausted basis as was the publicly stated objective of the Greek Cypriot leadership.”
“I have come to Geneva with a positive and constructive agenda”
President Tatar underlined that, in the absence of common ground to start new and formal negotiations on the Cyprus issue, he participated in the informal meeting “with a positive and constructive agenda” on the invitation of the Secretary-General, to hold “meaningful discussions to finding a mutually acceptable way forward in the Cyprus issue”.
“I have listened to the Greek Cypriot leader, who has stated once again, that negotiations can only be started from the point that was left in Crans-Montana – almost eight years ago – on the failed and exhausted basis that has simply not worked for more than half-a-century,” President Tatar said, adding: “However, as I have said, I came here with a positive and constructive agenda, with high hopes, determined to put forward a fresh new approach and policy on the next steps ahead, that is based on achievable successes. This has been the focal point of why I have participated in this informal meeting. My proposals are aimed at the development of a culture of cooperation that will pave the way for an eventual negotiated settlement, notwithstanding the fact that the main impediment to a settlement has been the inequality of status between the two Sides."
“My new proposal for a sustainable future”
Explaining that he has “always been open to dialogue and peaceful coexistence that is to the benefit of both the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People”, President Ersin Tatar said: “I have today put forward a fresh new proposal: The creation of a Cyprus Cooperation Council (CCC), following my reflection on where we came from, where we are today, how we can become a bridge for a sustainable future that is based on peaceful and prosperous coexistence. I am disappointed that, despite urging my Greek Cypriot counterpart to reflect on my proposal, he flatly rejected it. The Cyprus Cooperation Council would help bridge our differences so as to create a common ground for the common good, in line with the call of the UN Secretary-General in his written statement on 15 October 2024.”
President Tatar elaborated on the details of his CCC proposal, adding: “I proposed cooperation on:
i) Banking and Financial Transactions
ii) Trade
iii) Tourism
iv) Offshore Energy Resources
v) Electricity Interconnectivity to the EU Grid
vi) Irregular Migration
vii) Transition to Green Energy
viii) Judicial Matters
ix) Climate change
x) Management of freshwater resources of the Island
xi) Joint action on Humanmade and Natural Disasters and
xii) Demining
The CCC will be composed of the two Leaders, the two Negotiators and the relevant thematic team leaders. . . I presented my views as to how this Council can also be utilised as a platform to settle any dispute by peaceful means through diplomacy and dialogue. However, as I said, this proposal has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot leader today.”
Lifting of inhumane isolation
President Ersin Tatar stated that he had also during the plenary session and his other bilateral meetings stressed the need for the inhumane isolation on the Turkish Cypriot People to be lifted.
“The promises by the international community to end our isolation have not been honoured, and this situation is depriving the Turkish Cypriot People from the enjoyment of their basic human rights, including in direct flights, direct trade and direct contacts,” President Tatar said.
“It has been 62 years since the Turkish Cypriot people were left out from the international system. The continuation of this injustice is the main reason why a settlement to the Cyprus issue has not been found to date,” the President added.
President Tatar added that he had also put forward the issue of direct flights, direct trade and direct contacts (3Ds) – and that he had stated to Ms. Holguin during her tenure that the “3D” acceptance would be accepted as being a manifestation of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People.
Agreements reached in the informal meeting
President Tatar underlined the need to develop a culture of cooperation between the two Sides, adding that he has given approval for the opening of four new crossing points, demining, creation of a technical committee on youth, initiatives on the environment and climate change including the impacts on mining areas, solar energy in the buffer zone and the restoration of cemeteries.
“We discussed each of these cooperation areas and agreed to move forward in a manner that will be of benefit to the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar stated that the idea of both sides benefiting from solar energy with new projects supported by the European Union in the Buffer Zone was on the agenda, and that the Greek Cypriot side also looked favourably on the idea of “getting rid of power plants running on fuel oil by an interconnection system of the Island to the EU grid”.
“We have been informed that the EU will make a decision on the interconnection proposal at a later date,” the President said.
Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to be appointed
President Ersin Tatar stated that the UN Secretary General will be appointing a Personal Envoy to handle the next steps on these issues.The President added that an agreement was also reached for another informal meeting to be held in the same format at the end of July.President Tatar reiterated that continuing the Cyprus negotiation process from Crans-Montana is “out of the question” which was a point made clear during the plenary session. “A realistic and sustainable settlement in Cyprus can only be found on a two State model that is based on sovereign equality. We will not abandon this position,” the President said.
President Tatar reiterated that he made a proposal for the creation of a Cyprus Cooperation Council to increase the quality of life of the Turkish Cypriot People and Greek Cypriot People, but that this was flatly rejected, and pointed out that “we are ready to cooperate on trade, energy and water issues with the support of Türkiye, and we are open to discussing other areas of cooperation and initiatives."
The President emphasised that the informal meeting was “both important and meaningful”, and he thanked everybody for their contributions.