President Ersin Tatar on Monday said that the solution of the Cyprus Problem could only be achieved through the recognition of the sovereign equality of the two peoples on the island.

Tatar who received the US Ambassador to South Cyprus Judith Garber and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus Erica Olson reiterated the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in favour of a two-state solution.

Referring to the island’s past, President Tatar reminded that the Turkish Cypriots were just as sovereign as their Greek Cypriot counterparts on the island of Cyprus.

He added that sovereign equality was an inherent right of both peoples on the island.

Pointing out that the EU had failed to keep its promises to the Turkish Cypriot people and that the unjust isolations continued, Tatar said,” Turkish Cypriots have been governing themselves for the past 60 years. They possess all the institutions required for being a state. Despite having voted in favour of the Annan Plan in 2004, the Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan were unfairly admitted into the EU. Thus the EU cannot be impartial on the Cyprus Issue because Greece and South Cyprus are members to the bloc.”

The president argued that a settlement in Cyprus would also allow the Greek Cypriot side to benefit from Turkiye’s market of 80 million, its ports and airspace.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting was the work carried out between the bicommunal technical committees, cultural heritage, health, environment, communication, criminal matters and gender equality.

Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot side was ready to cooperate in any area that would help build confidence between the two sides as well as easing the daily lives of people living on both sides of the island.

He also said that they expected Washington’s contributions in achieving a lasting and sustainable solution in Cyprus which recognises the inherent rights of both peoples on the island.

The President’s Special Representative Ergün Olgun and members of Tatar’s negotiating team were also present at the meeting.