Tatar calls for ‘cooperation of two states’ before the informal meeting

President Ersin Tatar spoke on Tuesday about the need for cooperation and dialogue “between two states” prior to his bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the informal five-party Cyprus conference in Geneva.

Guterres held bilateral meetings ahead of the expanded conference with Tatar, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UK Secretary of State for Europe Stephen Doughty, and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.

Tatar publicly thanked Guterres for the opportunity given by the UN chief to express the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side. “We did not come with the expectation that anything concrete would emerge,” he said.

“We came here with a constructive and positive attitude, looking forward and not back.”

He added that the platform afforded by the Geneva conference provided an opportunity to express the positions of the Turkish Cypriot side.

“Some say that nothing will come of it. We did not come with this expectation. Everyone knows that. But we are given the opportunity for dialogue and communication, to express the rights and expectations of Turkish Cypriots, and to talk about the unjust embargo, isolation and restrictions that have been applied against us for 60 years,” he said.

Tatar referred to the need for cooperation “between the two states” in areas such as energy, water, migration and the fight against crime.

After meeting Guterres, the Turkish Cypriot leader had a brief meeting in the hotel lobby with former Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, House Speaker Annita Demetriou, Attorney-general Giorgos Savvides, and the Greek foreign minister.

Christodoulides told Guterres during his bilateral meeting that he had gone to Geneva with specific proposals and suggestions for initiatives he thought could contribute to efforts to restart Cyprus negotiations.