WEB DESK: President Ersin Tatar hosted a group of British journalists visiting North Cyprus with the “Freedom and Justice for Northern Cyprus” campaign.
The delegation included journalists from The Telegraph, GB News, The Critic, and others.
Campaign co-chair Çetin Ramadan, Assembly Member İlkay Kay, Presidential Advisor Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Işıksal, and Press Officer Kerem Haser were also present.
In his speech, Tatar urged the international community to revisit the Cyprus issue, emphasising the sovereign equality and international status of the Turkish Cypriots.
President pointed out that previous negotiations for a federal solution had repeatedly failed. In the 2004 referendums, Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the Annan Plan, while Greek Cypriots rejected it. Following which, the Greek Cypriots joined the EU, but Turkish Cypriots faced continued trade embargoes and restrictions on direct flights.
President Tatar pointed out the effects of this isolation, especially on young athletes who have to compete under other countries’ flags, calling it a human rights violation. He said that he hoped the new UK Labour Party government would offer a fresh outlook on the Cyprus issue.Tatar also noted that Cyprus is a strategically located near Turkey. He blamed the Greek Cypriot side for the lack of progress at the failed Crans-Montana Cyprus talks, saying that they were reluctant to share power and resources equally.
He recalled that former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is a supporter of a two-state solution as a practical way to solve the Cyprus problem.
