Greeks and the Greek Cypriots want to scrap Turkish guarantees and rid Cyprus of the Turkish army, President Ersin Tatar said on Wednesday.

Tatar, who was visiting the Turkish Peace Forces Command in Cyprus, said US Senator Robert Menendez’ dream of seeing the Turkish army leave Cyprus would never happen.

The president said the Turkish army brought peace to the island on July 20, 1974 and called on Greek Cypriots to abandon their armament activities and behaviours that escalated tension.

Tatar said what was important was finding a fair and lasting solution that would benefit Cyprus and the region.

US Senator Robert Menendez on Monday said his goal was to see the last Turkish soldier leave the island as he received Cyprus’ highest order of merit bestowed by President Nicos Anastasiades.

“The whole world knows what happened in Cyprus in the 60’s despite the Treaty of Guarantee. The Turkish Cypriots were massacred” the president noted.

Tatar also said that the Greek Cypriot side’s mentality has not changed despite the passing years and that the Turkish Cypriots will not accept any arrangement that will take them back to pre-1974 conditions.

Stating that an agreement in Cyprus should be based on two equal sovereign states, Tatar noted that the withdrawal of the Turkish army in Cyprus would be falling into a big trap.

“We’re not concerned about the statements of a US citizen. There are two different peoples in Cyprus. It is not possible for these two peoples to live together anymore,” Tatar said, adding that what was feasible was a two-state solution whereby the two states could cooperate

The president also expressed the Turkish Cypriot side’s readiness to negotiate and cooperate under these conditions.

Tatar said, “We are maintaining our security and protecting our people in cooperation with Turkey. The existence of the Turkish Armed Forces and the security it provides us is our red line.”

Responding to a question regarding the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy Jane Holl Lute, he said they will be going to New York for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to express the Turkish Cypriot side’s views and position.

Tatar also added that it was seen that there was no common ground for the second Geneva meetings.

President Tatar also said that a federal settlement was a thing of the past as all attempts to reach a federal settlement to date ended in failure.

He said the Greek Cypriots’ mentality was to transform Cyprus into a Greek island, something which they will continue to resist.

Pointing out that he was pursuing a policy in harmony with Turkey, Tatar said any solution which is based on single sovereignty and which would break off ties with Turkey was unacceptable.