TRNC President Tatar urges Turkish states to be cautious in relations with Greek Cypriots

Ersin Tatar, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has called on the Turkish state to be more cautious in their relations with the Greek Cypriot administration.

His remarks came after an agreement between some members of the Turkish States Organization (OTS), including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, and the European Union (EU).

Tatar made the statement during a meeting at the Presidential Office with Davut Gunaydin, Vice President of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB), and his accompanying delegation.

Speaking to journalists from Türkiye, Tatar discussed the agreement between the EU and certain OTS members, which has sparked concerns in Turkish Cyprus.

Tatar on the EU agreement with OTS states

Tatar stated that the agreement between the EU and some OTS members is a normal diplomatic development. “This is normal, as these countries have various interests and projects with the EU, both in the public and private sectors. The EU offers them opportunities, including financial contributions and commercial benefits,” Tatar explained.

He emphasized that the TRNC maintains friendly relations with all OTS member states and expressed that being part of a union of countries sharing a similar culture and language is completely natural.

Tatar’s concerns over EU’s role in Cyprus

President Tatar voiced concerns over the EU’s role in the Cyprus issue, suggesting that the primary goal of the EU’s agreement with the OTS states is to hinder the progress of the TRNC, which has been an observer member of the OTS since 2022. “The main goal of the EU in making this agreement is to hinder the TRNC,” Tatar stated.

Tatar also reminded that the Turkish position on Cyprus is centered around a two-state solution, and he expressed the expectation that the Turkish state will engage with the RNC just as they do with the Greek Cypriot side.

He pointed out that clauses in the EU agreement related to the Cyprus issue, which refer to UN resolutions, may have been overlooked by the Turkish state. “Do they realize where these clauses will lead and who will be affected by the results?” Tatar questioned.

Call for caution in relations with the Greek Cypriots

Tatar emphasized the need for caution in dealing with the Greek Cypriot administration, which has been a source of tension in Cyprus for years.

“Turkish states can maintain relations with the Greek Cypriots, but they must be careful. The game being played by the Greek Cypriots is far from humanitarian,” he said.

“Turkish states can maintain relations with the Greek Cypriots, but they must be careful. The game being played by the Greek Cypriots is far from humanitarian,” he said.

Tatar argued that until the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people are recognized, Turkish states should refrain from engaging in direct negotiations with the Greek Cypriots.

“Until the rights and laws of the Turkish Cypriots are recognized, the Greek Cypriots should be told to ‘wait,’ and that discussions will resume only after a proper agreement is reached,” Tatar stated.

Hulusi Akar on the recognition of Turkish Cyprus

In a separate statement, Hulusi Akar, Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, stressed the importance of recognizing the TRNC’s status on the international stage. “We cannot accept the EU acting as the spokesperson for the Greek Cypriots and pressuring world leaders to exclude the TRNC from international activities,” Akar said.

Akar further highlighted that the recognition of the TRNC is essential not only for justice but also for strengthening the strategic position of the Turkish world, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The recognition of TRNC is crucial not only for justice but also for strengthening the strategic depth of the Turkish world,” Akar added.

He also stated that the Turkish states have a responsibility to support the TRNC’s rightful place in international organizations. “This will not only fulfill TRNC’s quest for justice but also serve as a clear demonstration of the collective will of the Turkish world,” Akar said.