«We insist on the solution with two sovereign states, because on this island live two different peoples, each with a different culture, language and religion,”said the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Ersin Tatar,who gave an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, talking about the Cyprus problem and the chances of its solution, relations with Turkey and of course the opening of Varosha.
The FAZ journalist recalls, however, that at the time Ersin Tatar also voted against the Annan Plan. «That’s right. At that time I belonged to the 35% of Turkish Cypriots who were against the Annan Plan (…) The future now lies in two countries with good neighbourly relations”, he replies. In the question “What do you have against the solution of a state”, the Turkish Cypriot leader states: “A single state based on the federal principle would mean that the majority assimilates the minority (…) In a federal state there will be a demand that Turkey withdraw from Cyprus. But Turkey, as a guarantor power, has the right to keep troops on the island. Turkey will never leave Cyprus.”
“Are you Erdogan’s puppet?”
The FAZ reporter directly asks Ersin Tatar what exactly his relationship is with Tayyip Erdogan, noting that the “Greek Cypriots call him Erdogan’s puppet”.He replies: “We have a relationship of respect. The Turkish President supports me because he believes that I am pursuing a legitimate policy. It has not always been so (…) Anyone who calls me a puppet also forgets that I have remained true to my line, which I haveexpressed over the years in books and articles (…) I always coordinate with Turkey on important issues. If I said otherwise, it would be a lie.»
Among other things, regarding the opening of Varosha, which for decades was a ghost town, Ersin Tatar says:
“Since 1974 there have been many plans for the opening of Varosha,such as the Annan Plan, which was rejected by the Greek Cypriots. We cannot keep the city closed for another 47 years, especially since some owners have appealed against Turkey to the European Court of Human Rights because they do not have access to their properties.” As for the incident of covering Greek inscriptions in former public buildings in Varosha during Erdogan’s visit last year, Tatar notes that “he does not know who is responsible, but this can be found. Erdogan had nothing to do with it. These are local issues.”
