President Ersin Tatar receives British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA) officials
“Our forward-looking policy is for a two State settlement that is based on the inherent sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot People”
President Ersin Tatar received officials of the British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA) where he evaluated his recent visit to London where he put forward his two State policy to many Parliamentarians and members of the media.
The President received BTCA Chairman Kenan Yaman and executive member and former chair Ersu Ekrem, who stated that they were visiting the President to evaluate his recent visit to London and to express their support to him on his two State policy and the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot People.
President Tatar stated: “The UK is an important centre of diplomacy and is a guarantor power and a penholder of the UN Security Council. It is therefore important to continue explaining the Turkish Cypriot perspective with regards to the Cyprus issue and the injustices we are facing through the unjust inhuman isolation. The Greek Cypriot People rejected a settlement at least 15 times and rejected the 2004-based UN Comprehensive Solution [Annan] Plan in the separately held simultaneous referenda. The last equality-based settlement was again rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side in Crans-Montana in 2017.”
President Tatar explained that the Turkish Cypriot People, who are as sovereign as the Greek Cypriot People with inherent equality rights, have been governing themselves effectively as a State for the past 60 years, after having been ejected from the state apparatus of the partnership republic by force of arms in 1963, due to Greek-Greek Cypriot aspiration to unite Cyprus to Greece (ENOSIS). The President pointed to UN Resolution 186, which was adopted on March 4, 1964, which unjustly treated the Greek Cypriots as the sole government of the island.
“The existence of two separate sovereign States in Cyprus is a reality which cannot be brushed under the carpet,” President Tatar said. “The way forward is the reaffirmation of the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot People, for the two States to enjoy a cooperative relationship. Our policy is realistic and sustainable.”
Evaluating his recent visit to the British capital, President Tatar added that his visit enabled him to “speak to many Parliamentarians, MP’s, House of Lords members as well as be interviewed by members of the British media.” The President underlined the importance of continuing proactive efforts to get the injustices faced by the Turkish Cypriot People heard to the UK across all levels.
President Tatar thanked BTCA and the other Turkish Cypriot lobbying groups in the UK who were continuing to be the voice of the TRNC, and said it is important for the UK take fresh position with regards to the unequal treatment of the Turkish Cypriot People, and to take concrete steps on how to end the unjust isolation on the people of the TRNC, by honouring the promises to start direct trade and direct flights to the country.
Mr Yaman stated that as BTCA, which is a member of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations (UK) supported the two State policy of President Tatar and he explained the aims and objectives of the lobby group and the issues of the Turkish Cypriot People in the UK.
President Tatar also handed them a copy of "The Vision for Two States in Cyprus" book. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Press Officer Kerem Haser.
The President received BTCA Chairman Kenan Yaman and executive member and former chair Ersu Ekrem, who stated that they were visiting the President to evaluate his recent visit to London and to express their support to him on his two State policy and the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot People.
President Tatar stated: “The UK is an important centre of diplomacy and is a guarantor power and a penholder of the UN Security Council. It is therefore important to continue explaining the Turkish Cypriot perspective with regards to the Cyprus issue and the injustices we are facing through the unjust inhuman isolation. The Greek Cypriot People rejected a settlement at least 15 times and rejected the 2004-based UN Comprehensive Solution [Annan] Plan in the separately held simultaneous referenda. The last equality-based settlement was again rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side in Crans-Montana in 2017.”
President Tatar explained that the Turkish Cypriot People, who are as sovereign as the Greek Cypriot People with inherent equality rights, have been governing themselves effectively as a State for the past 60 years, after having been ejected from the state apparatus of the partnership republic by force of arms in 1963, due to Greek-Greek Cypriot aspiration to unite Cyprus to Greece (ENOSIS). The President pointed to UN Resolution 186, which was adopted on March 4, 1964, which unjustly treated the Greek Cypriots as the sole government of the island.
“The existence of two separate sovereign States in Cyprus is a reality which cannot be brushed under the carpet,” President Tatar said. “The way forward is the reaffirmation of the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot People, for the two States to enjoy a cooperative relationship. Our policy is realistic and sustainable.”
Evaluating his recent visit to the British capital, President Tatar added that his visit enabled him to “speak to many Parliamentarians, MP’s, House of Lords members as well as be interviewed by members of the British media.” The President underlined the importance of continuing proactive efforts to get the injustices faced by the Turkish Cypriot People heard to the UK across all levels.
President Tatar thanked BTCA and the other Turkish Cypriot lobbying groups in the UK who were continuing to be the voice of the TRNC, and said it is important for the UK take fresh position with regards to the unequal treatment of the Turkish Cypriot People, and to take concrete steps on how to end the unjust isolation on the people of the TRNC, by honouring the promises to start direct trade and direct flights to the country.
Mr Yaman stated that as BTCA, which is a member of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations (UK) supported the two State policy of President Tatar and he explained the aims and objectives of the lobby group and the issues of the Turkish Cypriot People in the UK.
President Tatar also handed them a copy of "The Vision for Two States in Cyprus" book. The meeting was also attended by Foreign Press Officer Kerem Haser.