The void left by the absence of talks on the Cyprus issue is being filled by the narratives of the two leaders, which are diametrically opposed.
\nPresident Christodoulides, seizing upon the visit of his Estonian counterpart, reiterated that his goal is the reunification of Cyprus and for Cypriots to have a common future together.
\nOn the other hand, Ersin Tatar insisted that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots should live in two separate states.
\nThe Cyprus issue was one of the topics on the agenda of talks between Nicos Christodoulides and Alar Karis.
\nThe two presidents discussed bilateral relations, the situation in the region, and issues related to the European agenda. Cyprus and Estonia are celebrating 20 years as EU member states this year.
\nKaris expressed his joy at being in Cyprus during the period when both countries celebrate the 20th anniversary of their EU accession.
\n\u201cThis visit underscores the depth of our partnership with Cyprus and our desire to further cultivate our friendly relations,\u201d he stated.
\nReferring to Cyprus, President Christodoulides noted that this year marks 50 years since the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the ongoing occupation of EU territory.
\nHe said he assured his Estonian counterpart that his vision and sole purpose from the moment he took office as President of the Republic, \u201cis the termination of the occupation, the reunification of Cyprus, so that all Cypriots can look forward to a brighter, common future together,\u201d and emphasized the importance of the EU itself playing a more active role in these efforts.
\nAfter their talks, the two leaders had the opportunity to walk along the Green Line.
\nFrom the observation point of Nicosia municipality, the two presidents and their wives gazed at occupied Nicosia. \u201cWell, it\u2019s sad that there is a Green Line and we don\u2019t have a (united) island where people can live peacefully,\u201d said the President of Estonia at the conclusion of the visit, expressing hope \u201cfor that moment to come.\u201d
\nIn the occupied territories, Ersin Tatar, speaking to a delegation of journalists from Ankara (source Kipris\/GTP), admitted that the policy he has been following in Cyprus for the past three years has the full support of Turkey.
\nHe also reiterated that an agreement can only be reached \u201cwith the acknowledgement of sovereign equality and equal international status.\u201d
\nAccording to the leader of the Turkish Cypriots, as long as Turkey is not an EU member, \u201cthe balances are against us,\u201d and \u201ca solution in Cyprus is now possible with the two-state solution.\u201d
\nWhile insisting that \u201ca federal-based solution on the island harbours many risks,\u201d Tatar said that Turkey\u2019s withdrawal from the island, the abolition of guarantees characterized as \u201coutdated,\u201d and the withdrawal of the occupying army from Cyprus, will bring an end to the \u201cTurkish Cypriot people,\u201d and therefore this will never be allowed.
\nHe further claimed that a solution based on federation poses risks such as severing ties with Turkey and undermining Turkey\u2019s security while simultaneously excluding it from the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasizing that \u201can agreement for Cyprus is possible only through the cooperation of two sovereign states after the accession of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU.\u201d
\nHowever, Ersin Tatar\u2019s approaches provoke reactions within the Turkish Cypriot community.
\nAs\u0131m Akansoy of the CTP party accused Ersin Tatar (source Kipris\/GTP) of \u201cputting the cart before the horse,\u201d noting that this approach cannot be accepted.
\nThe reason for Akansoy\u2019s statement is information that Tatar sets conditions for the resumption of talks such as lifting the so-called \u201cembargo\u201d and opening the illegal Tymbou airport for international flights.
\nMeanwhile, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties that met within the framework of bicommunal dialogue at Ledra Palace agreed that the window of opportunity for resuming negotiations for the Cyprus solution must be utilized constructively.
\nIn a Joint Statement issued after their meeting, under the auspices of the Embassy of Slovakia, it is stated that the participants expressed views on the issue proposed by the hosting party United Democrats with the subject: \u201cTime is of the essence: Two generations of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have spent their lives in anticipation and disappointment. Let\u2019s provide the perspective of peace, cooperation, development, and prosperity to the younger generations of Cypriots before it\u2019s too late. Let\u2019s make geography work to our advantage.\u201d”Green Line”. Cyprus issue, narratives, leaders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The fact described in the text is that President Christodoulides reiterated his goal of reunifying Cyprus and ensuring a common future for all Cypriots, while Ersin Tatar insisted on Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots living in two separate states.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3038,1414,652,1393,1031,2460,3475,3139,3,1539,413,3531,3818,398,2172,2837,264,3751,379,3716,820,187,2796,3755,3940,148,1346,3443,3939,1864,406,2447,2405,3753,1267,3522,827,1827,1358,1026,1844,114,177,268,2745,649,2123,3450,380],"class_list":["post-5924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other","tag-agreement","tag-airport","tag-army","tag-bilateral-relations","tag-christodoulides","tag-community","tag-cooperation","tag-cypriots","tag-cyprus","tag-cyprus-issue","tag-cyprus-problem","tag-delegation","tag-development","tag-diplomacy","tag-embassy","tag-equality","tag-ersin-tatar","tag-estonia","tag-eu","tag-greek-cypriots","tag-green-line","tag-international","tag-issues","tag-journalists","tag-leaders","tag-local","tag-meeting","tag-member-states","tag-narratives","tag-negotiations","tag-nicosia","tag-partnership","tag-president-christodoulides","tag-president-of-estonia","tag-presidents","tag-relations","tag-security","tag-statement","tag-support","tag-talks","tag-tatar","tag-top-news","tag-turkey","tag-turkish-cypriot","tag-turkish-cypriot-community","tag-turkish-cypriots","tag-turkish-invasion","tag-two-state-solution","tag-us"],"acf":{"keyphrase":"","keywords":"","sourceimg":"","country-category":""},"yoast_head":"\n