There is no common ground for the resumption of negotiations on Cyprus, said the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, commenting on the possibility of a new tripartite meeting on the Cyprus issue at the initiative of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. 

In fact, in his statements on Saturday night, he said that he had not received an invitation to a meeting on August 13 in New York.

In particular, in his statements to the newspaper Kibris, cited by ERT, Tatar said that no one should have the expectation that the negotiations will start where they stopped in Crans Montana in 2017.

He also reiterated his conditions for the resumption of negotiations in the Cyprus conflict, namely the recognition of the “sovereign equality” and the “equal international status” of the Turkish Cypriots, again asking for the recognition of the realities in Cyprus.

In his new provocative statement, he even commented that the Greek Cypriots want to set up a game again, create impressions and try to pressure the Turkish side. 

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The president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, criticized the refusal of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, to hold a tripartite meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations, describing this attitude as discrediting.

If these statements are true, it is a sign of disrespect primarily towards their Turkish Cypriots’ compatriots, but at the same time to the international community, the UN Secretary-General himself, but also the EU, he characteristically stated.

Mr. Christodoulidis emphasized that this meeting should take place, which aims to pave the way for the resumption of negotiations. Testing the waters means officially, a specific date, August 13, to be in New York and meet, just for this thing. 

Asked if there is a second plan, Mr. Christodoulidis replied that there is no second plan regarding the non-resolution of the Cyprus issue. Stagnation favors Mr. Tatar and all those who want no progress in the Cyprus issue.

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