The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Cyprus and Chief of UNFICYP Elizabeth Spehar whose duty is ending at the end of this month is carrying out farewell visits.

Within the framework of her visits, Spehar was received by President Ersin Tatar.

The two held a face-to-face meeting before having dinner.

Speaking to reporters after her meeting with President Tatar, the UN Special Representative thanked the president and his team for the cooperation they showed her.

She also expressed the hope that a positive outcome will emerge from the meeting President Tatar will be holding with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week.

Spehar said that she had told the two leaders at both meetings they held that they should encourage their respective communities for a solution on the island.

“Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots should try to understand each other and continue working together,” the UN Special Representative said.

Also speaking, President Ersin Tatar said that Ms Spehar had demonstrated objectivity and impartiality during the time they found to work together.

He said she had pressed for the reopening of the crossing points and had made important contributions to the work of the technical committees.

President Tatar said that he had conveyed with all his sincerity the Turkish side’s positions regarding a solution.

He added that there will be no change in the Turkish Cypriot side’s position when he meets with the UN Secretary-General in New York next week.

“We need a settlement on the basis of equality. We have established our own state and we will continue its existence. Official negotiations can only begin if our sovereign equality and equal international status is accepted. The UN Secretary-General said he respected our position at the last meeting but we did not receive enough attention at the meeting. Five decades of talks for a federal settlement failed to produce any results. Nothing has been done to pressure Greek Cypriots to work for such a settlement,” Tatar said.

Pointing out that the Cyprus Issue had become even more complicated after the Greek Cypriots had been allowed to join the EU following their rejection of the Annan Plan; he said that equal and sovereign rights of Turkish Cypriots must be reinstated to end this injustice.

Tatar explained that he had also discussed the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean with Spehar.

“We are hearing reports that exploration activities will resume in October. This is unacceptable. Turkey had made its position on the matter clear. This issue can be solved through a conference with the participation of all the relevant parties,” he said.

Tatar thanked Spehar for her contributions and wished her success in her new duty.