Tatar Urges 3D Initiative for Cyprus Talks: 'We Could Have Sat at the Table'

President Tatar shared his evaluations with the Turkish News Agency Cyprus (TAK) correspondent regarding his meeting with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Representative for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, and the current state of efforts to find common ground.

President Tatar emphasized that common ground could only be achieved with the affirmation of sovereign equality and equal international status, essential elements of the new national policy.

Highlighting that the "Republic of Cyprus" is a member of the European Union and would not accept a structure that would abolish the Republic of Cyprus, Tatar stated that he would not accept sitting at the table with the Greeks as "republic" and the Turks as "community." Tatar emphasized the importance of accepting equality as a state.

President Tatar stated that the sole aim of the Greek Cypriot side is to remove Turkey from the island, explaining that it would not be possible for Turkish Cypriots to continue their existence in a geography where Turkey's guarantorship has ended.

Expressing his objection to Holguin's meetings with various circles, Tatar stated that Holguin did not have the right to measure the people's orientations by "going door to door," expressing his discomfort with her actions challenging the established order.

Referring to Holguin's statements to the Greek Cypriot media, where she expressed surprise at Tatar's rejection of the trilateral meeting proposal, Tatar noted that there is currently no common ground, and negotiations without common ground would be meaningless.

Tatar emphasized that Holguin is the Personal Representative, not the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, and her duty is to investigate whether there is common ground to start the negotiation process. He emphasized the difference between their understanding and that of the Greek Cypriot side, stating, "There is currently no common ground because the other side is in the understanding of a two-zone, two-community federation. There is a difference between our understanding and theirs."

Stating that negotiations could start if the two sides could meet on common ground, Tatar said that Holguin is trying to force the issue, trying to drag the parties into the negotiation process without common ground, and does not understand the realities of Cyprus.

Referring to the joint press conference held by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis yesterday, where Erdogan said, "It is important to reach a fair and permanent solution to the Cyprus problem based on the realities on the island," Tatar emphasized that there are two separate peoples, two separate democracies, and two separate states in Cyprus, and Erdogan also meant "sovereign equality and equal international status." Tatar said, "They may not recognize the state in the north. But who can deny the existence of the state here? With its institutions and organizations, its democracy, its judiciary, its legislature, its executive, all kinds of mechanisms and functions are more established and rooted in our state than in most states."

Explaining that Turkish Cypriots also have the right to self-governance and ownership of the state, Tatar said that negotiations could start with the confrontation of two states.

Explaining that despite the Greek Cypriots' rejection of the Annan Plan, they became a member of the European Union, which gave them superiority and advantage, Tatar said that the Greek Cypriots no longer need an agreement, and they would not attempt to establish a structure consisting of two founding states that would abolish the Republic of Cyprus. He said, "Because the Republic of Cyprus is a recognized state, a European Union state..."

Tatar pointed out that if negotiations were to take place now, the Greeks would sit at the table as the Republic of Cyprus, and the Turks as a community, emphasizing the importance of accepting equality as a state.

Tatar said that they explained to Holguin that something should be done regarding sovereign equality and equal international status for negotiations to begin, but their explanations did not receive a response. He said that they demanded a "3D" initiative in their previous meetings.

Explaining 3D as "direct flights, direct trade, direct contacts," Tatar said that Holguin did not bring any news about 3D in her third visit. Tatar said, "If there had been an initiative on 3D, maybe we could have sat at the table."

Tatar expressed his reaction to the fact that while the Republic of Cyprus became a member of the EU, embargoes are still imposed on the TRNC, saying, "Where is this equality?" Tatar said that the purpose of the embargoes and isolations imposed is to make people give up and to reach a solution by imposition, and he emphasized that he could not accept this. Stating that his policy is supported by the Republic of Turkey, Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriots are not alone and that they have the support of Turkey with its 85 million population.

Responding to Holguin's statement "I hope both leaders will listen to the voices and wishes of their citizens," Tatar emphasized that the TRNC citizens do not approve the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers.

Tatar, stating that there are some problems in the country but they have managed to keep the state standing even in the most difficult times, said, "There is an order here. In this order, there is independence, freedom, liberty, and honorable life. Turkey's support is available both economically and socially and in terms of security." Tatar emphasized that security is the most valuable thing, saying, "What will happen to our security when the soldiers are withdrawn? It is essential for our security that Turkey's presence here is absolute." Tatar added that it is not possible for Turkish Cypriots to continue their existence in a geography where Turkey's guarantorship has ended.

Stating that there are also "extremely marginal" groups in the country, but generally, people care about their independence, freedom, and honor, Tatar said that the people will not give up their independent state.

Referring to Holguin's meetings with different circles, Tatar said, "There is an elected president here, there is a government, there are ruling parties. She cannot measure the people's orientations by herself by going door to door. She has no right... It is not nice to conduct a process that challenges the established order, to go as far as the most extreme opponents, and to run a process in the mode of provocation. I was uncomfortable with this, frankly... Holguin's duty is to investigate whether there is common ground. It is already clear that there is no common ground..." he expressed.

Referring to Holguin's statement, "There has been a 60-year division in Cyprus," Tatar said, "It was as if there was peace on the island for a long time 60 years ago..." and stated that Turkish Cypriots relaxed after the 1974 Peace Operation.

Reminding of his attendance at the opening of the Lost Bus Monument, built in memory of 11 martyrs killed in Larnaca in 1964, President Ersin Tatar pointed out that the incident happened exactly 60 years ago.

Referring to his last meeting with Holguin, Tatar said, "What I said to her was, 'Sorry, there is no common ground.' I thanked her... There is no situation where the Cyprus problem, which has not been solved for 60 years, will be solved with a magic wand. I conveyed my expectation that she should explain the process well and that the report she will write should be balanced and fair. Because what they write is important for us too. Her task is to investigate whether there is common ground... I conveyed my opinion that she should not go door to door and expect help from the most extreme opponents. The fact that she challenges the established order, goes up to the most extreme opponents, and conducts a process in the mode of provocation is not nice. I was uncomfortable with this... her duty is to investigate whether there is common ground." he used expressions.

Addressing circles still advocating a solution based on the federal basis, President Tatar said, "There is no point in sitting at the table and getting the equality that you already deserve. We need to sit at the table and solve the problem, but we need to get equality before sitting at the table. This is very important... The right that comes from our essence as Turkish Cypriots is already equal. Our biggest power is this... In the founding agreement of the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are as much owners of the republic as Greek Cypriots. They threw us out by force. The real occupier is there..."

Referring to the visit of Javanshir Feyziyev, the President of the Azerbaijan-KKTC Parliamentary Friendship Group, Tatar said, "We also hope that things will come to that point. The Azerbaijani National Assembly approved this friendship group. It has stated, 'There is a diplomatic meaning to this.' The approval of the National Assembly is formality, a step. My heart desires direct flights as well." he said.