TRNC President Tatar Reaffirms Sovereignty in Talks with UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo
The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ersin Tatar, met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday at the Presidential Office in Nicosia. The meeting was part of DiCarlo’s regional tour, which also includes visits to Greece and Türkiye.
During the talks, the two discussed the upcoming comprehensive meeting on the Cyprus issue, scheduled for next month. This meeting will include representatives from Türkiye, the TRNC, Greece, the UK, and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.
Sovereign Equality and Equal International Status
President Tatar emphasized that any steps towards a constructive solution to the Cyprus issue must include the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriot people. He reaffirmed that the Turkish Cypriot people are the “main element” in Cyprus and possess inherent sovereignty rights. Tatar also conveyed to DiCarlo that the TRNC supports the planned meeting in Geneva on March 17-18.
Tatar made it clear that the Turkish Cypriot people would never accept an agreement that makes their lives more difficult. He stressed that for a fair, permanent, and sustainable agreement, the sensitivities of the Turkish Cypriot people and the historical context of the island must be taken into account. He criticized the Greek Cypriots for rejecting every previous agreement and pointed out that it is the Turkish Cypriot people who remain under embargo. Tatar described these embargoes as “unacceptable” and called on the UN to take concrete steps on this issue, particularly advocating for the opening of direct flights, direct contact, and direct trade to the TRNC.
Constructive Dialogue
In her brief statement to the press, DiCarlo described the meeting as constructive. She noted that they discussed the key issues to be addressed during the upcoming comprehensive meeting. DiCarlo also mentioned that she would be meeting with Greek Leader Nicos Christodoulides as part of her visit.
