President Ersin Tatar spoke to The Guardian:
“The international community dealing with the Cyprus problem needs to think outside the box”
In his interview with the British newspaper the Guardian, President Ersin Tatar emphasised that the international community dealing with the Cyprus problem needs to think outside the box, noting that the hydrocarbon reserves surrounding Cyprus could be left unexploited, unless a solution to the 50-year dispute in Cyprus is reached soon.
President Tatar underlined that the federation solution model is a waste of time since Greek Cypriots had no incentive from inside the EU to share the island fairly. “They think that it is a Greek Hellenic island,” he said. “There are two states and two peoples on the island. We have our own culture and ambitions. Reversing the clock back is impossible. Unless our proposal is accepted, negotiations will not begin.”
President Tatar continued as follows:
“Türkiye is our Motherland, we are part of the Turkish nation. Whenever Turkish Cypriots were in trouble, Türkiye was there to support. If the status of Cyprus was deadlocked, the hydrocarbons risked being left unexploited. After a while, green energy will come to the fore, so the hydrocarbons will not have an economic value. Energy companies would not desire to come to the crisis regions.”
President Tatar underlined that the federation solution model is a waste of time since Greek Cypriots had no incentive from inside the EU to share the island fairly. “They think that it is a Greek Hellenic island,” he said. “There are two states and two peoples on the island. We have our own culture and ambitions. Reversing the clock back is impossible. Unless our proposal is accepted, negotiations will not begin.”
President Tatar continued as follows:
“Türkiye is our Motherland, we are part of the Turkish nation. Whenever Turkish Cypriots were in trouble, Türkiye was there to support. If the status of Cyprus was deadlocked, the hydrocarbons risked being left unexploited. After a while, green energy will come to the fore, so the hydrocarbons will not have an economic value. Energy companies would not desire to come to the crisis regions.”