Turkey's guarantees are crucial for the TCs, said their leader Ersin Tatar, noting that the basis of a possible agreement could be a two-state solution living side by side.
Tatar said they were tired of negotiations for a federation. He reiterated that he would sit at the negotiating table if the sovereign equality of the TCs is confirmed.
In a speech at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Tatar said that Turkish Cypriots were co-founders of the Republic of Cyprus, established in 1960, and that with the 1968 attacks they wanted to kick them out of the Republic. He argued that Turkey established peace on the island with its 1974 operation."
"We attach great importance to Turkey's guarantee and this guarantee is also very important for stability in the region," Tatar said.
On the Cyprus negotiations, the TC leader said that "we are very tired of the negotiations on the federation", adding that in the past great efforts were made to solve the problem, but they did not yield results.
He pointed out that the TCs with the federation aim to remove Turkey from the island.
"We have seen this game. Turkey's guarantees are crucial for us. After my election to the 'presidency' we defined a new policy with Turkey's support. The basis of a possible agreement could be a solution of two states living side by side. We will continue to work for our equal independence," he said.
The TC leader said: "Let us affirm our sovereign equality and sit at the table. Our sovereign equality must be confirmed in order to reach an agreement."
Responding to participants' questions after his speech, Tatar was asked what would happen if the two-state solution was not accepted and said: "We will continue to fight for the development of 'tdvk'. We will never give up our own state," he added."
Source: CNA
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