President Ersin Tatar starts his contacts in Manchester, UK
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President Ersin Tatar is paying a visit to Manchester where on his arrival he was welcomed by Onur Sayın, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye, Çimen Keskin, Representative of the TRNC to London, and other officials and members of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The President held his first meetings with Yasmin Qureshi and Afzal Khan -- both Members of Parliament, that has been dissolved due to the upcoming July 4 General Election. He also met with former Lord Mayor of Manchester, Yasmine Dar.
President Tatar next met with Brian Taylor, The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.
President Tatar also met with numerous business people during his visit to Manchester.
In his meetings, President Tatar stated that the TRNC is an independent state and a developing country in the eastern Mediterranean region, despite the unjust isolation being faced by Turkish Cypriot People, and pointed out that foreign investments in the country has increased over the years.
President Tatar stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people are continuing their struggle for justice and equal treatment, equal opportunities and equal status. He stated that the Cyprus issue has been continuing for 61 years after the 1960 partnership Republic of Cyprus -- founded by the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots -- collapsed, due to the Greek Cypriot Side's aspiration to unite Cyprus with Greece.
Stating that the Greek Cypriot Side voted against a UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan in the separately held simultaneous referenda in April 2004 by 76 per cent, and the acceptance of the plan by Turkish Cypriots by 65 per cent, President Tatar said: "The international community made many promises to end our isolation and restrictions, to have direct flights, direct trade and end the restrictions, which have not been honoured."
Explaining that the last and final negotiations on the federal basis collapsed in Crans-Montana in 2017, President Tatar said: "The time has come to open a new page in Cyprus. Today, I am putting forward a new vision for a sustainable and realistic settlement that is based on two States. These are the factual realities in Cyprus. There are two Peoples in Cyprus -- the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, each governing their own State and affairs with their own democracy. The two Sides on the Island can co-exist as neighbours in a cooperative relationship, and this settlement will benefit the Turkish Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and the region."
President Tatar stated that the UK is a "very important country" not only because she is one of the guarantor countries, but also due to the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of Turkish Cypriots living in the country. He added that he also meets with UK Parliamentarians during his visits to the UK and when they pay a visit to the TRNC. "It is our belief that the UK can play a more positive role on ending the isolation of Turkish Cypriot People, including on preferential trade and direct flights and allowing Turkish Cypriot sports clubs to be able to play in prominent international tournaments," President Tatar said.
President Tatar pointed out that UK Parliamenatrians have recently been more vocal about the issue of direct flights to the TRNC, and were making calls for this to be addressed by the UK Government in jointly signed letters and statements. "I hope that the issues of the inhumane isolation of the Turkish Cypriot People will be followed up by UK Parliamentarians following the General Election," President Tatar said.
Calling on business people to invest in TRNC, President Tatar emphasised that TRNC "is continuing on the path to developing its infrastructure in all areas, particularly in tourism and education".