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Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar departed for New York on Tuesday to attend an informal 5+1 meeting on Cyprus, hosted by the United Nations.
Speaking at Ercan Airport before his departure, Tatar stated that for meaningful negotiations to begin between the island’s communities, the international community must support direct flights, trade, and contact with the TRNC. He accused the Greek Cypriot side of escalating tensions rather than fostering a positive climate.
"The world must see the reality on the ground and recognize the rights of the Turkish Cypriots," Tatar said, emphasizing that he would not compromise on the sovereignty of the TRNC.
Tatar also criticized recent moves by Greek Cypriot authorities targeting individuals and companies purchasing property in the north, calling it a "campaign of intimidation" and likening it to "state-sponsored terror."
He further claimed that the U.N. has remained passive in the face of rising tensions on the island, and reiterated that any future settlement must guarantee "peace, stability, and security" for all Cypriots.
The informal 5+1 meeting—involving the two Cypriot communities and the three guarantor powers (Türkiye, Greece, and the United Kingdom)—is scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday in New York under the auspices of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides is also expected to attend, alongside the foreign ministers of Türkiye and Greece, and the U.K.'s minister for European affairs.
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