President Ersin Tatar said on Friday that the Turkish Cypriot side was working on a two-state solution in Cyprus based on sovereign equality and cooperation.

“Let us not forget that Cyprus is not the old Cyprus. The Eastern Mediterranean is not the same Eastern Mediterranean. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Turkey have become stronger in the region as a result of the Blue Homeland doctrine,” he said.

Issuing a New Year’s message, President Tatar expressed the hope that a two-state solution will be reached in the New Year.

He pointed out that a two-state solution in Cyprus was fully supported by Ankara and that such a settlement will contribute to achieving regional peace and stability.

“This solution model has become inevitable following the collapse of efforts to reach a federal settlement in Cyprus with the last summit in Crans Montana,” he said.

Regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the president reminded that more than 5.5m people had lost their lives due to Covid-19.

He thanked the health care workers and doctors who have been working tirelessly for the past two years on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19.

“The pandemic has been managed well as a result of the measures adopted by the government. Our sensitivity on the issue continues,” Tatar added.

Touching upon the steps taken by the government over the past year, President Ersin Tatar that one of the biggest accomplishments was the reopening of the fenced-off city of Maraş with the support of Turkey in October 2020.

“We have enabled people to access some of the public properties and the beachfront after 46 years,” he said, adding that a second phase had been launched on 20 July, 2021 with the lifting of the military status of an area covering 3.5 per cent of the fenced-off town.

This move he added will allow property owners to have their properties reinstated in line with international law through applications to be filed with the Immovable Property Commission (IPC).

President Ersin Tatar wrapped up his message by pointing out that efforts by the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo to lay claim over the island’s resources and exert control over the region were futile.

“The TRNC and Turkey will continue to adopt a determined stance against such efforts. We have no claims over the Greek Cypriot side’s rights but we shall defend our own to the very end,” Tatar said.

He said that Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will not give into threats or any forms of coercion.

Tatar concluded by calling on the UN and EU to adopt an impartial stance on the Cyprus.

“I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year,” he said.