Tatar: I Never Said TRNC Recognition Was a Precondition for Talks

Speaking on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Tatar dismissed remarks attributed to him—“I never said I would only sit at the table if the TRNC is recognised”—and reiterated support for the so‑called “Three Ds,” a formula also backed by Ankara.

Tatar addressed persistent speculation over a notional “Varosha for Ercan” swap, under which the fenced‑off coastal suburb would be reopened in exchange for approving international traffic at Ercan Airport. “No such offer has ever been made to me, and I would not accept it if it were,” he said. Varosha (Maraş), he argued, is “TRNC land,” whereas any agreement on Ercan would be subject to Greek Cypriot consent and could be revoked at will. “If Varosha goes, there’s no way back,” he warned.

The Turkish Cypriot community, Tatar added, has been “unjustly punished” since its removal from the Republic of Cyprus in 1963. “There can be no settlement without equality at the negotiating table,” he said.

Tatar also dismissed as “pure fabrication” a claim by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides that questions cannot be put to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “Christodoulides simply made it up,” he said.

Tatar’s remarks come ahead of a possible resumption of diplomatic contacts and are likely to be closely watched in international circles.