Tatar: If the Greek Cypriots had said Yes to Annan, things would have been different

The Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar reiterates his position on two states in Cyprus in an interview with the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, arguing that the only guarantee of the Turkish Cypriots is Turkey.

"When we looked at Ukraine, we saw how right we were. Because they don't have a guarantor," he said.

In his interview, Mr. Tatar said that "if the Greek Cypriot side had said 'yes' (to the Annan plan), there would be very different situations against us on the island today". On the negotiations in Crans Montana, he said that "the final card was 'zero troops, zero guarantees.' Turkey would give up guarantees on the island, the EU would take over. Turkish soldiers would also withdraw. Impossible. When it wasn't accepted, that job was over."

He also mentioned that after that he was elected himself and then "a new era began in Cyprus as a result of the assessments we made in the prime ministership".

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“A new vision, a new understanding and a new policy… This is two states. Because if there was a partnership with the EU, Turkey would leave and our security and our presence here might be in jeopardy. It is not possible to accept this. The only guarantee of our existence here is the guarantee of the Republic of Turkey," he argued.

According to him, "the new policy also includes this. The new policy means an egalitarian national regime based on the equality of sovereigns. Only by accepting this can negotiations begin."

Referring to Ukraine, he said that if we look at the issue "we see how right we were. See what condition they were in. Because they have no guarantor to protect them. In order for our new policy to be successful, in close cooperation with the Republic of Turkey, we have shared the new proposals with the other side, Britain and all states."

He acknowledged that "of course we have difficulties. Official negotiations must also begin within the parameters we set in the 1960s, which was the bi-communal, bi-zonal federation." "There hasn't been much formal discussion at the moment, but we are in favor of dialogue," he added.

He argued that "there is no longer a single state in Cyprus. Since an agreement on a federal basis has not produced results after 50 years, all these negotiations have been exhausted, now we say two states. There is no turning back now. There is no such thing as 'Cyprus belongs to the Cypriots'. Because this phrase essentially serves the E/k".

In his reference to the EU, he said that "the EU questions my 500-year history and says: 'I included Cyprus'" and wondered "from whom did you take Cyprus and included it?" Who gave you this power? Which right, which law, which regulation, which court?"

"If they have power, so do we. Here there is a Turkey in the name of Cyprus. 85 million today, 100 million tomorrow. Diplomats, experts, historians tell us that we are right. It is enough to stand our ground. No one should doubt that we will stand firm," he said.

Source: KYPE