The conflict over hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean highlights the importance of the “struggle for sovereignty”, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said during his speech for ‘victory day’ on Tuesday.

A military ceremony took place in north Nicosia to celebrate the Asia minor catastrophe which was attended by Tatar and other Turkish Cypriot leaders.

Referring to the present, Tatar asserted that his leadership projects “the new policy [of two states] considering the past and the games being played in Cyprus for years now”.

Tatar said that “we cannot accept any confidence building measures being cooked by the Greek Cypriot side and proposals extending sovereignty [of the Republic of Cyprus] over the TRNC”.

He repeated that “our proposals are on the table. We support a solution based on the cooperation of the two states. We will never abandon our sovereign rights.”