Tatar rules out meeting Anastasiades in New York

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday said he does not expect to meet President Nicos Anastasiades in New York in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Speaking to Turkish Cypriot broadcaster Bayrak (BRT), Tatar reiterated his stance on the Cyprus problem and said he “does not think Anastasiades will have time for a meeting in the midst of an election period.

“Had there been an interest in organising such meeting, I would have heard about it before. It is way too late now and there will not be enough time to prepare,” he said.

Asked to comment on the statements made by British MP Rishi Sunak, who is running to replace Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative party and prime minister, who called the events that unfolded in 1974 “the Turkish invasion”, Tatar said those were made in ignorance of the issue.

“He does not know anything about the Cyprus problem. If he did, he would not speak like that.

“Whether he recognises us or not, we are a state of our own. Turkey recognises us and that’s enough,” Tatar said.

Tatar ruled out a solution to the Cyprus problem based on a bizonal and bicommunal federation, claiming that recent developments and failed talks over the years have made the situation irreversible.

“Our new policy is based on sovereign equality and in the past two years we have achieved a great deal,” he said.

“A bizonal and bicommunal federation can no longer be discussed or accepted. Sovereign equality is now our policy and we will go forward with it.”

Finally, on the recent gas discovery in the Cronos-1 well, located about 160 kilometres off the coast of Cyprus in block 6, the Turkish Cypriot leader said “its exploitation should benefit both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.”

“We also have the right to profit from the new developments in our sea,” Tatar said.

The Turkish Cypriot leader also commented on the latest developments concerning Turkey and Israel, which last week agreed to restore full diplomatic relations.

“We represent a big part of the recent diplomatic moves concerning Turkey and Israel.”