Ersin Tatar, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, has reiterated his conditions for the recognition of sovereign equality and equal international status ahead of an informal tripartite dinner with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on October 15 in New York.
In statements to Anadolu Agency, Tatar emphasized that “our terms for the negotiations with the Greek Cypriots are clear. The negotiation process can begin when sovereignty is satisfied (i.e., our demand for sovereignty).” He further stated that “our sovereign equality must be recorded.”
Tatar intended to explain to his interlocutors at the dinner that direct flights and trade to the self-proclaimed ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ should begin and that “outdated embargoes, isolations, and restrictions” should be lifted. He argued that these barriers have been unjustly imposed to assert Turkish Cypriot sovereignty.
Tatar also made it clear that formal negotiations will not commence until the acquired rights of the Turkish Cypriots are accepted and clear, unambiguous conditions are met. He reiterated his commitment to the policy of two states with sovereign equality and equal international status.
Tatar concluded that the dinner presented an opportunity to explain the Turkish Cypriot position to the international community.