Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said that the real negotiations on the Cyprus issue will not be renewed if the sovereignty of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Ankara, is not internationally recognized, the website “Türkiye Today“ reported, quoted by BTA.
Tatar participated in the informal meeting on the Cyprus issue in New York, which was chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The meeting was also attended by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Greece George Gerapetritis and Turkey Hakan Fidan, as well as British Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty.
Tatar stressed that he arrived in New York with "positive and constructive attitude" and said that over the past four years, Turkish Cypriots have united around the view that "real negotiations on the Cyprus issue will not resume until the sovereign equality and equal international status" of Northern Cyprus is confirmed.
"If the formal negotiation process is resumed, it must be based on the real situation on the ground, with both sides being treated equally, fairly and with dignity," Tatar added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 after the Turkish army invaded in response to a Greek nationalist coup. In 1983, the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared in the northern part of the island, which, however, remains recognized only by Ankara. The island is a key source of disagreement between Greece and Turkey, which are allies in NATO.