Tatar brands Christodoulides “racist” and “extension of ELAM” before UN talks
Source: in-cyprus.com
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said he will raise the Greek Cypriot side’s “reluctance” to cooperate on demining, firefighting and earthquake response with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a meeting in New York.
Tatar said he will meet with the Secretary-General and participate in a trilateral meeting with President Christodoulides, according to statements broadcast on illegal broadcaster Bayrak.
Tatar cites property dispute arrests as cooperation barrier
Speaking on a television programme, Tatar claimed he works to find common ground but the Greek Cypriot side does not help develop relations. He cited arrests by Republic of Cyprus police for appropriation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas as evidence of non-cooperation.
Tatar said arrests are being made and the Greek Cypriot side is not willing to participate in discussions on property issues. He repeated that this matter would be resolved through the “immovable property commission” and added that “an exchange method could be a radical solution.”
Tatar advocates two-state solution
Regarding the UN Personal Representative’s forthcoming report, Tatar said he sees and appreciates the efforts of Maria Angela Holguin. He noted that the Greek Cypriot side does not want to open new crossing points whilst technical committees work effectively and meetings of the newly established Technical Committee on Youth are successful.
Tatar said they introduced a new policy on the Cyprus issue after the Annan Plan and the Crans-Montana talks collapse made clear that the federation issue should be closed. He claimed Greek Cypriot insistence on “zero troops, zero guarantees” would not end.
With the new paradigm, referring to the two-state solution model, they thwarted plans to abolish Turkey’s right as a guarantor power and withdraw Turkish troops from the island, he said.
Turkish Cypriot position hardens ahead of elections
The Turkish Cypriot “people” are one of the fundamental elements on the island for centuries, Tatar said, adding the Turkish Cypriot side is also a founding partner of the Republic of Cyprus with rights on the island. Progress can only be made if this is accepted, he stated.
On crossing points, Tatar said he took initiatives to open crossings at Mia Milia and Louroujina, but the Greek Cypriot side wants passage through the buffer zone at Pyrgoi and Kokkina. “We cannot allow them to use roads in the dead zone, because they will demand land in the future,” he added.
Discussing regional developments, Tatar claimed “southern Cyprus has now surrendered” with British bases, the United States, France and now Israel present “with all their military equipment.”
On the Israel-Cyprus-Greece electrical interconnection, he said this could happen with energy transferred through Turkey. Regarding mixed marriage children, Tatar said it is wrong to discriminate between children and young people, calling it wrong to treat children born in Cyprus “as if they are invaders.”
Tatar said he has always believed in two states and that Turkish Cypriots are a separate “people.” He claimed joining the Organisation of Turkic States represents a significant achievement for recognition of the breakaway entity.
A solution can only be achieved “with two sovereignties” with Turkish Cypriots united on this position, he said. “After the Annan Plan, when the other side abandoned then-leader Talat, the two-state policy should have been put on the agenda. Mustafa Akinci also made efforts and some concessions were made. But the selfishness of Greek Cypriots and their perception of us as a community led to this agreement. Now, the situation is even worse,” he said.
Referring to President Christodoulides, Tatar accused him of “racism” and claimed “ELAM and similar elements are growing and Christodoulides is their extension.” He alleged their propaganda against the construction sector and universities continues, claiming “their only goal is to isolate us.”
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