The Special Representative of the President, Güneş Onar, Advisor on Legal Affairs Sülen Karabacak, Confidence Building Measures and Bilateral Technical Committees Coordinator Director/Representative Seniha Birand Çınar, Special Advisor on International Relations and Diplomacy Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Işıksal, Foreign Press Officer Kerem Haser and the UN delegation also participated in the meeting.

President Tatar spoke to the press following the meeting.

"Opening the Haspolat crossing point is very logical. I hope the Greek Cypriot side will also take a positive view”

President Tatar said: “I thanked Mr. Stewart for hosting the end-of-year reception inside the UN Buffer Zone and for his hospitality. During the meeting, we spoke about the attention and interest shown to me by the participants at the event, which also allowed the sides to share their respective positions and thoughts.  The Turkish Cypriot Side has never avoided communication.”

Stating that the Greek Cypriot Side’s proposal for a “transit passage” would not be accepted, President Tatar said: “The opening of the Haspolat crossing point would be very logical and beneficial to the Peoples on both sides, and it is my hope that the Greek Cypriot side will also take a positive view. We cannot accept the transit passage proposal of the Greek Cypriot side and are waiting for an alternative proposal to be made.”

“I reiterated the importance of creating a culture of cooperation between the two sides”

President Ersin Tatar said that he had in the meeting “reiterated the importance of developing a culture of cooperation on issues that will benefit both sides,” adding: “The technical committees are working on many issues on the basis of equality to enable cooperation between the two sides. There is no comprehensive solution in sight at this time, however I have reiterated in the meeting the importance of developing cooperation between the two sides on issues that will be of benefit for both sides.”

Pointing out that the understanding of opening additional border crossings had been reached during the informal dinner hosted by the UN Secretary-General in New York on October 15 between him and the Greek Cypriot Leader,  President Tatar said: “From the very beginning, the Turkish Cypriot Side has been proposing the opening of a crossing point in Haspolat for commercial purposes, that can be used for trade, and by taxis, that would ease the traffic congestion in Metehan, and also enhance people-to-people contacts. It would be of benefit to both sides.”

Pointing out that there are nine crossing points between the TRNC and Southern Cyprus, President Tatar said: “65 per cent of the traffic passes through the Metehan border crossing. Opening the Haspolat crossing point is very logical. I hope the Greek Cypriot side will also take a positive view.”

Stating that he believed the Greek Cypriot Side views the opening of a crossing point in Haspolat positively, President Tatar said: “As always, they want something in return. We do not accept their transit point proposals (which will only be used by Greek Cypriots from one region of Southern Cyprus to another region of Southern Cyprus), neither from Erenköy nor Kiracıköy. It is not possible for us to approve transit passages because they do not fit the definition and concept of a crossing point between the North and the South.  I have put forward my position on this issue. We are waiting for a counter proposal, which could come at the beginning of the year.”

Yiğitler-Pile road

President Tatar said that he had put forward to Mr. Stewart during the meeting the issue of the Yiğitler-Pile road issue. “Nobody objected to a road being constructed from Pile to Larnaca,” President Tatar said. “However, when the Turkish Cypriot Side wanted to develop the road from Yitiğtler to Pile, there were incidents that has made the Turkish Cypriot Side very uncomfortable. The Yiğitler-Pile road issue is an open wound, and Turkish Cypriots living in the village are in need of direct access to the TRNC, that will cut travel time and commuting via the SBA’s. This road will eliminate the problems of our people. I have raised this issue today.”

UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo will arrive on the island in January to prepare for the broader meeting

President Tatar stated that Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, will be paying a visit to the Island of Cyprus in January, as part of preparations for the informal meeting to be held in a broader format.

The President stated that, as things stand, the expectation is for the informal meeting to take place towards the end of February or beginning of March.

Sovereign equality and equal international status needed for start of new and formal negotiations

“The position of the TRNC and the Republic of Türkiye with regards to the start of a new and formal negotiations process is clear,” President Tatar said. “New and formal negotiations can be started after our sovereign equality and equal international status has been reaffirmed, which is our inherent right. I have never been against having informal meetings to discuss cooperation proposals, which if they came to fruition, would be of benefit to the Turkish Cypriot People and the Greek Cypriot People. Having cooperation between the two Sides would create a conducive atmosphere for a sustainable future.”

Geostrategic importance of TRNC

President Tatar referred to the latest developments in the eastern Mediterranean, stating: “The geostrategic, geopolitical importance of the TRNC has significantly increased following the latest developments in the eastern Mediterranean. The Republic of Türkiye is a guarantor power and the largest country in the region, lying just 40 miles from the Island of Cyprus. Türkiye has interests in the region, and officials of Türkiye are frequently making statements in support of my new vision and position, that is on the basis of a two State settlement in Cyprus. Federal based negotiations have failed to produce a settlement for more than half-a-century. Negotiations on this basis have been exhausted. It is time to open a new page, and to think outside the box.”

He said Mr. Stewart will “present a report to the United Nations Security Council in New York at the end of January 2025”, adding: “I have stated my expectation that the determination made by the UN Secretary-General following the informal dinner in October, that there is no common ground between the two Sides, is included in the upcoming reports. This was also a determination made by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Ms. María Holguín Cuéllar.”

Stating that these are historical reports, the President stated that it is “important for these statements and determinations to be recorded”.