The Cyprus Issue is once again being brought before the UN’s agenda.
President Ersin Tatar is in New York for contacts within the framework of the 77th UN General Assembly.
Tatar will be explaining the Turkish Cypriot side’s position in favour of a two-state solution and the need for the recognition of its sovereign equality.
The president who arrived in New York on Sunday attended the 5th Traditional Gala Dinner of the American National Steering Committee.
Speaking to the TAK news agency before leaving the TRNC, President Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot side desired the recognition of its status as other countries were internationally.
“We are demanding our vested rights stemming from the 1960 Republic of Cyprus,” he said.
Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side has not set political recognition as a precondition to begin negotiations on the basis of sovereign equality, Tatar said that when the negotiations collapse, the Greek Cypriot side goes about its business as the Republic of Cyprus whereas the Turkish Cypriot side is left in the limbo without any status.
He added that what the Turkish Cypriot side was seeking was the recognition of a status just like the one the Greek Cypriot side had and that the UN must decide and acknowledge that Turkish Cypriots are just as sovereign as the Greek Cypriots.
“This will bring no harm to the Greek Cypriots but will upgrade the status of Turkish Cypriots allowing them to receive more recognition from the international community. This return will also raise chances of a settlement on the island,” the president said.
Tatar pointed out that the Greek Cypriots saw Turkish Cypriots as desperate for a solution and that they will one day return under the roof of the Republic of Cyprus as a minority.
President Tatar argued that should the Turkish Cypriots’ sovereign equality be recognised, this would mean talks would be held between two states, that the two states could cooperate, chances of Turkish Cypriots becoming a minority will be removed and that the Greek Cypriots will be given the message that Turkish Cypriots will continue on their way under the their own state in the event a settlement is not reached.
“I am ready to discuss property, the constitution and all remaining chapters if our sovereign and equal status is recognized,” said Tatar.
He also argued that Turkish Cypriots would have no chance of being equals with the Greek Cypriots in a federal settlement.
“Under such circumstances Turkish Cypriots would slowly disappear in time. This would be the beginning of the end,” he said.
Tatar said that he believed that the opposition parties in the TRNC were also opposed to the idea of the assimilation of the Turkish Cypriot people being patched to the Greek Cypriot administration.
Pointing out that he had submitted a series of proposals to the Greek Cypriot side regarding hydrocarbons, renewable energy, clean water and undocumented migration, Tatar reminded that the Greek Cypriots had proposed the opening of Ercan airport to international flights under the UN’s supervision.
“UN supervision means Greek Cypriot supervision. These proposals have only one purpose, to assimilate Turkish Cypriots, he said, adding that a similar proposal to hand the operations of the Gazimağusa port to the EU would lead to the same result.
He argued that it was the Flight Information Region (FIR) which the Greek Cypriots were after with the Ercan proposal.
Regarding his contacts in New York, the president said that he will be holding a variety of contacts at the TRNC’s office at the Turkish House located opposite the UN General Assembly building.
Tatar said that he will also be meeting with the UN General-Secretary Antonio Guterres and the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.