Head of TRNC: Extended meeting on the Cyprus issue will take place in mid-March in Switzerland

The President of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar, and Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, held a joint press conference following the Turkish politician's visit to Northern Cyprus. The leader of the Turkish Cypriots emphasized that the idea of solving the Cyprus issue based on a federation "ended with the 2004 referendum, in which the majority voted against it".

According to the head of Northern Cyprus, an agreement based on a federation "is not a viable solution for either side".

Ersin Tatar also expressed his gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for supporting the TRNC's membership as an observer in the Organization of Turkic States, calling it a significant achievement.

Speaking about upcoming diplomatic efforts, Ersin Tatar stated that an informal meeting between the two sides in an extended format, with the participation of the guarantor countries - Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom - is planned for mid-March in Switzerland. The details of the upcoming meeting will be clarified shortly.

The leader of the Turkish Cypriots also touched upon the issue of opening new crossing points.

- As leaders, I hope we can find solutions to these problems. Efforts to open a new crossing point in the Haspolat area to reduce traffic congestion at the Metahan crossing are ongoing, - stated Ersin Tatar.

Regarding recent events in the Eastern Mediterranean, the TRNC leader noted that Turkey has become a global player in the region, which has also raised the status of the TRNC, making it "indispensable in the geopolitical landscape".