The security of the Turkish Cypriot community and the existing guarantee system cannot be the subject of negotiation, former Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar has said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. According to the Turkish Cypriot electronic press, Tatar reiterated his position in favour of "sovereign equality" and "equal international status" as preconditions for a permanent settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Claims over Republic of Cyprus ownership
Tatar claimed that the Greek Cypriot side continues to regard itself as the sole owner of the Republic of Cyprus, and said it could not be accepted for Turkish Cypriots to be treated as a community with "minority status."
Calls for UN to address 1964 resolution
Tatar called on the United Nations "to confront its past," referring to UN Security Council Resolution 186 of 4 March 1964. He argued that the policy pursued since then had not led to a solution, and called for concrete measures to lift the political and economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
Position on security and the Treaty of Guarantee
On the question of security, Tatar said "the effective and practical guarantee of Turkey" and the unilateral right of intervention could not be abandoned. "The security of the Turkish Cypriot people is not a subject of negotiation," he said, adding that in his view neither NATO nor any other international mechanism could replace the Treaty of Guarantee.
"Two peoples, two states" position
Tatar also argued that Cyprus contains "two separate peoples, two democracies and two authorities," and expressed concern over efforts to sideline the "immovable property committee."
