Tatar: Those Who Support the Two-State Policy Should Stand with Us in the Election

Speaking on the program “Gökhan Altıner ile Sabah Postası” on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Tatar noted that while he had a strong desire to be the presidential candidate of the National Unity Party (UBP), past experiences showed that those elected from the party later ran as independent candidates. For this reason, he said, he decided that running as an independent would be the most appropriate path.

Tatar also confirmed that UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, would return to the island. Emphasizing his insistence on the two-state solution perspective, he recalled hosting Holguín at an iftar dinner last year before the Ramadan holiday. According to Tatar, Holguín had attempted to bring them back to the negotiation table with the Greek Cypriot side, but he made it clear that there was no common ground.

He stated that Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides was also trying to bring him back to the table. Referring to a recent meeting in the buffer zone and the subsequent 5+1 informal talks in Geneva, Tatar said agreement had been reached on six key issues, and that the rights and interests of the TRNC were defended at every platform.

Addressing energy cooperation between the two sides, Tatar criticized the Greek Cypriot side’s unilateral approach to solar energy. He stated that their expectation to receive all electricity produced and only later allocate a portion to the TRNC was unacceptable, calling it a claim to sole sovereignty. He warned that if necessary, the TRNC could pull out of any solar energy agreement under these conditions.

Tatar also commented on the case of Simon Aykut, a Turkish Cypriot developer arrested in the south for allegedly selling Greek Cypriot-owned properties in the north worth €43 million. He stated that Aykut is a cancer patient who wants to return to the TRNC with his family, but that the Greek Cypriot administration is preventing this, calling it a violation of human rights. According to Tatar, Aykut’s son, Jack Afik, is leading a strong legal team in launching a major compensation lawsuit, which may result in a substantial payout by the Greek Cypriot side.

Reaffirming his position, Tatar stressed that the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights will continue to be defended, and that they will never compromise on their sovereign rights.