President of Northern Cyprus: Our position today is stronger than in the past

President of Northern Cyprus: Our position today is stronger than in the past

Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, emphasized at a press conference on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that the armament of Southern Cyprus within the framework of certain agreements with Israel has increased tension and instability on the island.

Referring to the shift in the negotiation approach over the past five years, he said: “Talks have shifted from seeking a federal solution to negotiations based on two independent states, and this has strengthened the foundation and position of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”

Tatar also recalled the importance of the speech delivered by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, at the UN General Assembly, stating: “The rights of the Turkish Cypriot people are of great importance. The declaration of sovereignty and the call for the recognition of the Cypriot people at the global level hold special value for us.”

Regarding the timetable of this week’s negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side under UN supervision, he said: “We have not yet reached common ground, because they persistently refuse to accept our demand for sovereign equality. Until this issue is realized, no formal negotiation process will begin.”

The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus concluded by saying: “We will no longer sit at the negotiating table to find a solution, because such an approach is considered dependence on the other side. Today, with the full support of Turkey and the strengthening of its international position, our stance in Cyprus has become much more solid compared to the past.”