President Ersin Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot people will never give any concessions from its security and freedom.

Speaking on the Turkish news channel TV Net, Tatar said that the Greek Cypriot side supported the continuation of the Republic of Cyprus under the guise of a federal settlement.

He said that the only acceptable settlement in Cyprus was a two-state solution based on sovereign equality and cooperation.

Touching upon his contacts in New York, Tatar said that he was proud to have taken part in the opening of the new Türkevi (Turkish House) building.

Commenting on the condemnation made against the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Elpidoforos, President Ersin Tatar criticized the intolerance and fanaticism of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo, stating that it was impossible to reach a solution with this kind of mentality.

He added that it will be impossible to reach a solution as long as the Greek Cypriots do not see and accept the Turkish Cypriots as their equals on the island.

“I conveyed this view to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during my meeting with him in New York. I defended our state and sovereignty in New York,” Tatar said.

The president said that a federal settlement based on single sovereignty was a ruse aimed at reducing Turkish Cypriots into a minority within a Greek Cypriot state, cutting off their ties with Turkey in the process.

He added that the Greek Cypriot side’s plan was to ensure the continuation of the so-called Republic of Cyprus by introducing a few constitutional amendments under the name of a federal settlement.

“The Turkish Cypriot people paid a heavy price to get to where they are today. We shall never make any concessions from our sovereignty and freedom,” Tatar stressed.

President Ersin Tatar said that Turkish Cypriots had founded and strengthened their own state in the last 50 years.

He also said that many changes had taken place in the Eastern Mediterranean during this period.

“Mr. Guterres is well informed of the processes that led to the Annan Plan as well as the collapse of the talks in Crans Montana. This is why he is not exerting any pressure on either side,” Tatar added.