Calls for a change in approach towards the Turkish Cypriots have been received by President Christodoulides, according to what Ersin Tatar claims.
Tatar perceives that there are positive responses to the demands concerning the lifting of the “isolation and embargo” of Turkish Cypriots and for the “new policy” of the Turkish side.
According to the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, foreign circles are pressuring the President of the Republic: “They are told that the isolation and embargoes are wrong, that this is unacceptable, and that he should give something to the Turkish Cypriots.”
Ersin Tatar (source Kipris/GTP) listed a series of “wants” in order to agree to return to the negotiating table:
“If we are to enter a new negotiation process, I must definitely gain something; the isolation must be lifted, direct flights must begin, the mindset that prevents us from meeting our interlocutors must be lifted. If these are achieved, we will start a new negotiation process. These must be implemented with a promise from the international community that these will be permanent, and there must be no return to the present situation. It should not be done with the permission of the Republic of Cyprus. That is why we say two separate states.”
Regarding the mission of Maria Angela Holguin Cuéllar, according to what Ersin Tatar says, it will lead to a deadlock as “the Turkish side will not overturn its national policy,” and this was made clear during the trip to Ankara.
On the issue of the Arsos-Pyla road, he admitted that its construction has stopped and hopes that there will be an agreement for the last one and a half kilometres: “10 kilometres were constructed, but the last 1.5 kilometres are a dead zone. Progress will be made with the approval of both sides at this point. The Greek Cypriots started building 400 houses with the tolerance of the United Nations in that area. 400 houses mean 400 armed Greek Cypriots there. This creates a security problem for our army. We strongly opposed this because it will affect our security. And they opposed the construction of the road, and the construction stopped.”
Speaking at an event of the TMT organisation, Ersin Tatar expressed the opinion that if the “new policy” can be maintained today with full support from Turkey, it is because the Turkish Cypriots are founding partners who gained rights with the conditions of 1960 in Cyprus.
He added that “our sovereign equal rights are inherent rights.” He then mentioned that “we continue to shout to the world that if there is an agreement in Cyprus, it will be with the cooperation of two states,” adding that “an agreement on a federal basis, where the majority will govern the minority, is a single state and a single sovereignty.”
New visit to Brussels
Meanwhile, according to a publication of Kipris (source GTP), a delegation from the so-called industrial chamber (KTSO) visited Brussels between 19-20 March and met with officials from the European Commission.
According to the announcement from “KTSO”, the head of the delegation was the “vice-president” of “KTSO”, who was accompanied by the “deputy general secretary” of “KTSO”, Izzet Antiloglu.
From the European side, Mario Nava, Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, Judit Rozsa, Director of Resources, Coordination and Aid Programme in the Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support of the European Commission, and the delegation from the European Commission participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, discussions were held on joint efforts with “KTSO” to increase trade volume within the framework of the Green Line Regulation, EU support programmes for industry, problems encountered in banking money transfers with the free areas, the registration of halloumi as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), trade within the framework of the Green Line Regulation, and other agenda items.
The “KTSO” vice-president stated that the talks were “very productive” and expressed confidence that progress will be made on the discussed issues with the continuation of dialogue with the European Commission.
