TC leader Tatar "Christodoulides holding meetings with the head of EU state is unfair"

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar noted that if there will be a meeting between the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres soon, then he will request a meeting with the UN Secretary-General too.

Tatar emphasized that it was unfair towards the Turkish Cypriots that Christodoulides is holding talks with the head of the EU state.

Tatar underlined that all these create inequality adding that this inequality is the main obstacle to a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Tatar received the European Commission’s Director-General for Structural Reforms Mario Nava, and the (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo separately.

Making a statement to the press after the meetings, Tatar said that they discussed many issues with the European Commission’s Director General for Structural Reforms Mario Nava. He noted that he conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side's discomfort that no officials from North Cyprus were invited to the opening of the Cooperation Centre in Kormacit to be held on March 18, which was built with the permission of Turkish Cypriot authorities, under the auspices of EU financing, and the UN Development Program.

-The issue of natural resources...

Stating that they discussed the issue of natural resources surrounding the island with Nava, the TC leader Tatar stated that if any steps are to be taken on the issue in the future committees should be formed with the support of Türkiye and that authorities of "North Cyprus should be included.

-Interview with DiCarlo

Referring to the meeting with the (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Tatar noted that Di Carlo conveyed the UN Secretary-General’s greetings and condolences following the earthquake. Referring to the Cyprus talks, DiCarlo said that she was researching whether a new process could begin in Cyprus following the election of Christodoulides, Tatar is cited as saying.

-Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar continued as follows

“We conveyed, once again that we are optimistic towards dialogue and technical committee efforts on the Cyprus issue, its past and its essence. However, we conveyed that our new policy put forward at the 5+1 conference held in Geneva is still valid and that official negotiations can begin with the recognition of our sovereign equality and equal international status.”

Noting that there is a perception within the EU that if there is to be an agreement in Cyprus Turkish Cypriots will be integrated via the Republic of Cyprus, Tatar said that this will never be accepted.