TC leader Ersin Tatar and Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu have publicly expressed conflicting views on the approach to negotiations and demands for international recognition.
TC leader Tatar intends to inform UN Secretary-General António Guterres that Turkish Cypriots will not participate in negotiations until their demands are met. These demands, known as the “3D approach,” include, direct flights, direct trade and direct contact.
Foreign Minister Ertuğruloğlu openly criticized Tatar’s 3D approach, questioning its feasibility:
“Will we be content with just opening the airport to international flights? Who will authorize direct trade? It will be the so-called government of the Republic of Cyprus!”
Tufan Erhürman, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), highlighted the apparent discord between Tatar and Ertuğruloğlu:
“You haven’t explained what these concepts mean. It’s easy to claim ‘unity’ with words, but when it comes to implementing these ideas in the real world, cracks begin to appear.”
“However, the parties shouldn’t be too concerned. They still maintain unity in their unrealistic approach and their desire for deadlock as a ‘solution’.” Erhürman was cited as saying.
