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Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar said Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides is pursuing processes beyond his capacity, warning that "even the Greek Cypriot people are disturbed by the dangerous game."
Tatar spoke to the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) ahead of his meeting on Friday with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Greek Cypriot leader Christodoulides in New York. He emphasized that the TRNC sees no alternative to a two-state solution for Cyprus.
The president stated that federation-focused solution models are a game played by Greek Cypriots to withdraw Turkish troops from the island and end Türkiye's guarantorship. He conducts all Cyprus negotiations at the U.N. in consultation with Türkiye.
"There is no alternative policy. There is the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people. There are the sovereignty rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. There are all kinds of relations that the Turkish Cypriot people have established with the Republic of Türkiye," Tatar said.
Tatar stressed that official negotiations would never begin without recognition of Turkish Cypriot sovereignty. He set explicit preconditions for any future talks with the Greek Cypriot side.
"If there are direct flights, direct trade, direct contact, then we can proceed to negotiations," Tatar said.
"If the victimization of the Turkish Cypriot people under isolations, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also mentioned at the UN General Assembly, is eliminated, we can start negotiations," he noted.
The TRNC president confirmed he would convey his thoughts and political stance to U.N. Secretary-General Guterres on Friday. He emphasized his support for dialogue while maintaining an unwavering commitment to the two-state solution model.
Tatar rejected any approach that would exclude Türkiye, force Turkish Cypriots into partnership with Greek Cypriots, or transform Cyprus into a Hellenic island. "Of course, we give a 'rejection' answer to such an understanding," he stated.
The Turkish Cyprus president criticized recent Greek Cypriot purchases of air defense systems from Israel, suggesting Christodoulides was overreaching in attempts to increase his international profile.
"Even the Greek Cypriot people are disturbed by the dangerous game the Greek Cypriot administration is playing. They have made the Greek Cypriot administration a much more dangerous region," Tatar said.
He argued that while this dangerous process continues in Southern Cyprus, the federation-based approach should be completely removed from the agenda. The arms buildup represents an escalation that undermines any potential for reunification talks.
Tatar's statements come as international pressure mounts for renewed Cyprus negotiations. The island has been divided since 1974, with numerous failed attempts at reunification under various U.N.-sponsored frameworks.
The Turkish Cypriot position has shifted from supporting federal solutions to advocating for the formal recognition of two separate states on the island. This stance reflects decades of unsuccessful negotiations and the TRNC's continued isolation.
The Friday meeting with Guterres represents another attempt at dialogue, though fundamental disagreements about the framework for any future talks remain. The TRNC insists on sovereign equality as a precondition, while the Greek Cypriot side maintains its position on a federal solution.
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