President Ersin Tatar received on Thursday the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform Elisa Ferreira who is on the island for a series of contacts.

During the meeting, Tatar briefed the EU Commissioner on the latest set of proposals he had made to the Greek Cypriot side through the UN.

“If you truly want a settlement in Cyprus you must make up for all the injustices you have committed in the north. We need to strengthen the TRNC,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said that she had discussed with President Ersin Tatar a number of issues where cooperation could be carried out.

Describing the meeting as very constructive, Ferreira said that it was important to listen to the views of both sides.

Also speaking after the meeting, President Ersin Tatar said that he had reminded the EU commissioner that Turkish Cypriots also have a stake in the island’s hydrocarbons and that interconnecting the island’s energy grids with that of Europe would solve, to a great extent, the energy problems experienced on both sides of the island.

He said that Ferreira had spoken of a €1bn fund which could be used on energy issues in Cyprus.

Tatar pointed out that achieving interconnectivity with Europe will also open the way for expanding solar electricity production on the island.

“The EU commissioner said that she will be looking in more detail on how we can achieve interconnectivity,” he said.

Tatar also said that he will be making additional proposals, such as the creation of a committee to address the issue of undocumented and illegal migrants as well as clearing the island of landmines.

Stating that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was well informed on the Cyprus Issue, President Ersin Tatar said that the secretary-general pointed out in his latest report that there was still no common ground on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.

“The prospects of launching new talks at this time seem very unlikely however, the EU and UN could support the implementation of the proposals I have made. Even if there is no ground to reach an agreement on the substance of the Cyprus Issue, dialogue and implementing such confidence-building steps will have benefits for both sides,” he said.

Tatar said that he had explained to the EU commissioner that the Turkish Cypriot side, together with Türkiye, was doing everything possible to preserve the peace on the island.

“I told Ms Ferreira that any agreement to be reached in Cyprus must be between two equal sides for it to be viable and sustainable. If the two sides are not equal we will be giving birth to a still-born child, the outcome will be no different from the 1960 Partnership Republic,” he noted.

Tatar said that he had also told the EU commissioner how unfair it was for the Greek Cypriot side to enjoy all the perks of membership while Turkish Cypriots continued to be subjected to isolation and embargoes.

“The TRNC is not getting the support and treatment it deserves. This I conveyed to the EU official,” he added.

Tatar complained that the EU was withholding support and assistance designated for the TRNC.

“As with the issue of Hellim, the EU can inspect the Turkish Cypriot side but not the so-called Republic of Cyprus. I told her the EU has to send someone to inspect the cheese production because the TRNC is a separate state. Whether you [EU] recognise the TRNC or not it exists and you need to understand this. However we are experiencing serious problems because you allowed South Cyprus, which is acting as if it has sole authority over the entire island, to join the bloc,” he said.