President Ersin Tatar holds press conference following his meeting with María Angela Holguín Cuéllar, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General
“I will hold a meeting in New York with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his delegation on 26 September, and a tripartite meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader on 27 September.”
President Ersin Tatar held a press conference following his hour-long meeting with María Angela Holguín Cuéllar, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General at the Presidency.
President Tatar stated that he had held a constructive meeting with Ms. Holguín, recalling that she had also taken part in the 5+1 informal meeting in New York on 16–17 July, where “she witnessed firsthand the struggle we had waged there,” he said.
The President explained that “during the informal meeting, the Greek Cypriot leader continued his uncompromising stance on the issue of border crossing points and had refused to engage with us as an equal counterpart in areas where cooperation is necessary. We were unable to achieve the progress we had hoped for”.
“At the core of the Cyprus issue lies the question of status”
Reiterating that the Cyprus issue is fundamentally a matter of status, President Tatar continued:
“On one side stands a recognised state, a member of the European Union. On the other side the Turkish Cypriot people, who were equal co-founding partners of the Republic of Cyprus that had been expelled from the state apparatus by force of arms – have since been governing ourselves. We have continued to exist whilst defending our inherent sovereign rights. The Turkish Cypriot side, for more than half-a-century, has been sincere in trying to reach an equality-based settlement, which was clearly proven in the Annan Plan of 2004 and in 2017 in Crans-Montana, which was the last and final attempt for a federal settlement in Cyprus. However, a settlement could not be reached because of the refusal of the Greek Cypriot side to share governance and resources on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot side. Despite our constructive position, we have faced a great injustice. We continue to face isolation and restrictions, with constant obstacles imposed to make our lives more difficult.”
President Tatar emphasised that for any fair, lasting, and sustainable settlement to be possible, the “inequality of status must be eliminated, and our inherent right, namely sovereign equality and equal international status, must be reaffirmed”. He underlined that his administration will “continue to pursue cooperation between the two sides, to foster relations between the two peoples, and to advance initiatives for the benefit of both peoples”.
The President stressed his intention to “continue working to build trust and create a culture of cooperation between the two sides”. Referring to the discussions in New York, President Tatar listed the topics raised: solar energy investments in the buffer zone, water resources issues, climate change, environmental protection, preservation of cultural heritage, restoration of cemeteries on both sides, and demining.
In reference to the wildfires that had occurred in South Cyprus during the summer, President Tatar recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had “offered every form of assistance, both from the air and on the ground, but the Greek Cypriot side, regrettably, rejected our offer”. He pointed out the “mentality” that prevails in the Greek Cypriot side – that refuses to accept the Turkish Cypriot side as an equal and authority even at times of an emergency or natural disaster. Highlighting the mentality on the other side, President Tatar stated that “we will continue to act with maturity and patience in order to promote a constructive approach”.
“We can never accept discrimination among our own citizens”
President Tatar said that he also briefed Ms. Holguín on recent developments, one of which concerned the issue of “mixed marriages”. He stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side had maintained a clear position on this matter for years: “We can never accept discrimination among our own citizens. I raised this matter in many meetings. Previous presidents had also raised the issue repeatedly, however the matter has remained inconclusive. Unfortunately, South Cyprus views the matter from a completely different perspective. At the July meetings in New York, I had put forward our position to both Greece and the Greek Cypriot leader, stating that such discrimination was contrary to human rights and European Union values.
“In the last meeting in July in New York, I directly asked the Greek Foreign Minister—himself a law professor—how such discrimination could be justified legally,” President Tatar said, adding: “I have in my meeting today raised the matter with Ms. Holguin and have asked for an intervention to be made on the matter,” he said.
Prison conditions in South Cyprus
President Tatar also drew attention to the conditions faced by Turkish Cypriot citizens in prisons in South Cyprus, describing the situation as troubling.
“Our citizens in South Cyprus are experiencing great hardship. Reports indicate that both the prison conditions and the treatment they receive amount to grave mistreatment,” the President said. He added that he had asked Ms. Holguín to raise this issue with the Greek Cypriot side and to ensure that Turkish Cypriot citizens are treated under humane conditions.
Visit of British MP Afzal Khan
Referring to the recent visit of British MP Afzal Khan CBE to the TRNC, President Tatar said: “Mr Khan expressed support for the Turkish Cypriot people and stressed the need for continued efforts toward a fair, lasting, and sustainable settlement in Cyprus. Following the visit, the Greek Cypriot side launched a campaign against him, unable to tolerate even Parliamentarians from visiting to listen to the Turkish Cypriot side.”
The President said he was saddened that Mr Khan had been “subjected to severe attacks from the Greek Cypriot side as a result of his goodwill visit to the TRNC,” adding: “We were very pleased by the messages he gave us. What followed, however, was not what we would have wished, and we were deeply saddened. The reaction of the Greek Cypriot side was unacceptable. . . which again I stressed to Ms Holguin, stating that such mentality is indeed inconsistent and unjustifiable.”
President Tatar stated that he had also held discussions on the upcoming presidential election to be held on 19 October and its aftermath.
“This election will take place,” President Tatar said. “And the decision will rest with our people. Our people know very well what has transpired in recent times, and they will make their judgment accordingly,” he stated.
Border crossing points
Turning to the issue of border crossing points, President Tatar remarked on the prevailing perception in the South that “Tatar will lose, someone else will come”, and that “a negotiating table will be established for federal-based negotiations. . . and with it hopes for a solution in Cyprus will be revived.”
He recalled that he had proposed the opening of new border crossing points at Haspolat and Akıncılar in order to alleviate traffic at the Metehan crossing and prevent long queues. “Perhaps four new crossings could have been opened by now. Yet deliberately, this was not done,” he said, questioning whether the refusal was linked to election provocations or simply an effort to heighten tensions by the Greek Cypriot side.
President Tatar stated that he will raise this issue, again, with the UN Secretary-General in New York, in the meetings on 26–27 September. On the congestion and hardship faced by Turkish Cypriots at the Metehan border crossing, President Tatar stated: “This is not something I can accept. . . my proposals to alleviate the long queues and congestion that is causing hardship to both peoples remain on the table despite Greek Cypriot rejection. The refusal to open these crossings has no rational justification. Their opening would have brought significant benefit and advantage to both Northern and Southern Cyprus.”
Stating that the “Turkish Cypriot side operates three lanes with sufficient numbers of staff to undertake the immigration process at Metehan,” President Tatar said: “The Greek Cypriot side however has restricted the number of lanes to just one, and has reduced the number of police officers to one – which is the primary cause of the congestion and long queues, which is being implemented deliberately in order to increase the tension between the two peoples.”
President Tatar acknowledged the objectivity of the UN Secretary-General and his efforts to facilitate improved relations between the two sides, with a view to eventually establishing a common ground between the sides in order to start a new and formal negotiation process.
Upcoming meetings in New York
Reaffirming the importance of dialogue and engagement, President Tatar said he will continue to seek the support and contribution of the UN in improving the relations between the two sides, adding: “On 26 September, we will meet with the UN Secretary-General and his delegation, and on 27 September, we will hold a trilateral meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader.
President Tatar stated that he had held a constructive meeting with Ms. Holguín, recalling that she had also taken part in the 5+1 informal meeting in New York on 16–17 July, where “she witnessed firsthand the struggle we had waged there,” he said.
The President explained that “during the informal meeting, the Greek Cypriot leader continued his uncompromising stance on the issue of border crossing points and had refused to engage with us as an equal counterpart in areas where cooperation is necessary. We were unable to achieve the progress we had hoped for”.
“At the core of the Cyprus issue lies the question of status”
Reiterating that the Cyprus issue is fundamentally a matter of status, President Tatar continued:
“On one side stands a recognised state, a member of the European Union. On the other side the Turkish Cypriot people, who were equal co-founding partners of the Republic of Cyprus that had been expelled from the state apparatus by force of arms – have since been governing ourselves. We have continued to exist whilst defending our inherent sovereign rights. The Turkish Cypriot side, for more than half-a-century, has been sincere in trying to reach an equality-based settlement, which was clearly proven in the Annan Plan of 2004 and in 2017 in Crans-Montana, which was the last and final attempt for a federal settlement in Cyprus. However, a settlement could not be reached because of the refusal of the Greek Cypriot side to share governance and resources on the basis of equality with the Turkish Cypriot side. Despite our constructive position, we have faced a great injustice. We continue to face isolation and restrictions, with constant obstacles imposed to make our lives more difficult.”
President Tatar emphasised that for any fair, lasting, and sustainable settlement to be possible, the “inequality of status must be eliminated, and our inherent right, namely sovereign equality and equal international status, must be reaffirmed”. He underlined that his administration will “continue to pursue cooperation between the two sides, to foster relations between the two peoples, and to advance initiatives for the benefit of both peoples”.
The President stressed his intention to “continue working to build trust and create a culture of cooperation between the two sides”. Referring to the discussions in New York, President Tatar listed the topics raised: solar energy investments in the buffer zone, water resources issues, climate change, environmental protection, preservation of cultural heritage, restoration of cemeteries on both sides, and demining.
In reference to the wildfires that had occurred in South Cyprus during the summer, President Tatar recalled that the Turkish Cypriot side had “offered every form of assistance, both from the air and on the ground, but the Greek Cypriot side, regrettably, rejected our offer”. He pointed out the “mentality” that prevails in the Greek Cypriot side – that refuses to accept the Turkish Cypriot side as an equal and authority even at times of an emergency or natural disaster. Highlighting the mentality on the other side, President Tatar stated that “we will continue to act with maturity and patience in order to promote a constructive approach”.
“We can never accept discrimination among our own citizens”
President Tatar said that he also briefed Ms. Holguín on recent developments, one of which concerned the issue of “mixed marriages”. He stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side had maintained a clear position on this matter for years: “We can never accept discrimination among our own citizens. I raised this matter in many meetings. Previous presidents had also raised the issue repeatedly, however the matter has remained inconclusive. Unfortunately, South Cyprus views the matter from a completely different perspective. At the July meetings in New York, I had put forward our position to both Greece and the Greek Cypriot leader, stating that such discrimination was contrary to human rights and European Union values.
“In the last meeting in July in New York, I directly asked the Greek Foreign Minister—himself a law professor—how such discrimination could be justified legally,” President Tatar said, adding: “I have in my meeting today raised the matter with Ms. Holguin and have asked for an intervention to be made on the matter,” he said.
Prison conditions in South Cyprus
President Tatar also drew attention to the conditions faced by Turkish Cypriot citizens in prisons in South Cyprus, describing the situation as troubling.
“Our citizens in South Cyprus are experiencing great hardship. Reports indicate that both the prison conditions and the treatment they receive amount to grave mistreatment,” the President said. He added that he had asked Ms. Holguín to raise this issue with the Greek Cypriot side and to ensure that Turkish Cypriot citizens are treated under humane conditions.
Visit of British MP Afzal Khan
Referring to the recent visit of British MP Afzal Khan CBE to the TRNC, President Tatar said: “Mr Khan expressed support for the Turkish Cypriot people and stressed the need for continued efforts toward a fair, lasting, and sustainable settlement in Cyprus. Following the visit, the Greek Cypriot side launched a campaign against him, unable to tolerate even Parliamentarians from visiting to listen to the Turkish Cypriot side.”
The President said he was saddened that Mr Khan had been “subjected to severe attacks from the Greek Cypriot side as a result of his goodwill visit to the TRNC,” adding: “We were very pleased by the messages he gave us. What followed, however, was not what we would have wished, and we were deeply saddened. The reaction of the Greek Cypriot side was unacceptable. . . which again I stressed to Ms Holguin, stating that such mentality is indeed inconsistent and unjustifiable.”
President Tatar stated that he had also held discussions on the upcoming presidential election to be held on 19 October and its aftermath.
“This election will take place,” President Tatar said. “And the decision will rest with our people. Our people know very well what has transpired in recent times, and they will make their judgment accordingly,” he stated.
Border crossing points
Turning to the issue of border crossing points, President Tatar remarked on the prevailing perception in the South that “Tatar will lose, someone else will come”, and that “a negotiating table will be established for federal-based negotiations. . . and with it hopes for a solution in Cyprus will be revived.”
He recalled that he had proposed the opening of new border crossing points at Haspolat and Akıncılar in order to alleviate traffic at the Metehan crossing and prevent long queues. “Perhaps four new crossings could have been opened by now. Yet deliberately, this was not done,” he said, questioning whether the refusal was linked to election provocations or simply an effort to heighten tensions by the Greek Cypriot side.
President Tatar stated that he will raise this issue, again, with the UN Secretary-General in New York, in the meetings on 26–27 September. On the congestion and hardship faced by Turkish Cypriots at the Metehan border crossing, President Tatar stated: “This is not something I can accept. . . my proposals to alleviate the long queues and congestion that is causing hardship to both peoples remain on the table despite Greek Cypriot rejection. The refusal to open these crossings has no rational justification. Their opening would have brought significant benefit and advantage to both Northern and Southern Cyprus.”
Stating that the “Turkish Cypriot side operates three lanes with sufficient numbers of staff to undertake the immigration process at Metehan,” President Tatar said: “The Greek Cypriot side however has restricted the number of lanes to just one, and has reduced the number of police officers to one – which is the primary cause of the congestion and long queues, which is being implemented deliberately in order to increase the tension between the two peoples.”
President Tatar acknowledged the objectivity of the UN Secretary-General and his efforts to facilitate improved relations between the two sides, with a view to eventually establishing a common ground between the sides in order to start a new and formal negotiation process.
Upcoming meetings in New York
Reaffirming the importance of dialogue and engagement, President Tatar said he will continue to seek the support and contribution of the UN in improving the relations between the two sides, adding: “On 26 September, we will meet with the UN Secretary-General and his delegation, and on 27 September, we will hold a trilateral meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader.