President Tatar Affirms Turkish Cypriot Stance in Meeting with UN Representative

He reminded that Holguin was tasked by the Secretary-General on January 5th to explore whether there is a common ground for initiating a new and official process between the two sides within six months, emphasizing that he would not tolerate any pressure to bring leaders together or form a dialogue with leaders.

Tatar emphasized that the new policy laid out by the Turkish Cypriot side in Geneva three and a half years ago continues, with full support from Turkey, stressing their insistence, as reiterated during their evaluation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during their joint visit to Gambia, on the recognition of the acquired rights of the Turkish Cypriot people as a precondition for starting negotiations, without stepping back. He reiterated to Holguin during today's meeting that the Turkish Cypriot side's stance remains that negotiations could only commence with the confirmation of their sovereign equality and equal international status.

President Tatar pointed out that Holguin's six-month term will expire on July 5th, indicating signs that there are some observations indicating the absence of a common ground. He emphasized the necessity for certain steps to be taken for the recognition of their sovereignty and the need for their sovereignty to be clearly defined. Regarding the current situation, he stated, "Looking at the current situation, (the UN Security Council's) Resolution 186 of March 4, 1964, treats the Republic of Cyprus as the entire government of Cyprus."

President Tatar also highlighted the unilateral accession of South Cyprus to the European Union despite rejecting the Annan Plan, stating that it has been a system where Turkish Cypriots have been subjected to isolation and embargoes for years, indicating that the Greek Cypriot side cannot even tolerate Turkish Cypriots meeting with world leaders or countries.

Tatar also mentioned attempts by South Cyprus to hinder the work and speeches of the Turkish Cypriot side in Gambia prior to their participation in the 15th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stating, "They do the same to the Turkic world. Now, with this mentality, what are we going to solve and on what basis? Sitting at the table does not solve anything; the essence is changing the mentality."

President Tatar reiterated the need for the recognition of the acquired rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, emphasizing that the Turkish Cypriot people are also engaged in this struggle as a sovereign equal people.

President Tatar stated that he shared all these with Holguin again during today's meeting, emphasizing, "If there is no common ground, there is no meaning in starting a meeting and another round of talks."

President Tatar also stated that after her term, Holguin should write her report with great care to these sensitivities, emphasizing, "She will have had the opportunity to understand the essence of the Cyprus problem and learn it again for six months. Therefore, my wish and request are for all these, the injustices done to the Turkish Cypriot people, and how the Greek Cypriot people exploit their position to be essentially the source of the lack of solution in Cyprus to be reflected in the report."

President Tatar reiterated that the Secretary-General is experienced in the Cyprus issue and knows that no pressure should be exerted for a solution in Cyprus, emphasizing, "If there is to be a settlement in Cyprus, it is as in UN procedures, it is 'freely negotiable' and 'mutually acceptable.' That is, the two peoples will sit freely and negotiate their own bargains, and in the end, there will be a voluntary agreement with the consent of each people."

Tatar also said, "I also conveyed that it is not right to bring the Turkish Cypriot side to a solution with pressure, and these do not yield results," stating that the Turkish Cypriot side continues its national struggle with the full support of Turkey and that if there is to be a solution in Cyprus, it can be achieved through cooperation between the two states.

Tatar said, "Some civil society organizations go and say something according to themselves, but this binds them. What binds us is our state, the decisions taken, our people's struggle, and our relations with Anatolia and Turkey," he said. He said that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to stand behind its policies and reiterated this to Holguin, saying, "She has understood us very well."

Tatar thanked Holguin for all her efforts and said, "My expectation from her is that in her report, she will analyze all these realities, the events of the last half-century in Cyprus, and reflect them in her report in the best possible way. Because she will have had the opportunity to understand the essence of the Cyprus problem and learn it again for six months. Therefore, if there is to be a fair report, all these should be reflected in this report."

A delegation from the Presidency was also present at the Tatar-Holguin meeting.