Tatar: We do not recognize Hahn's appointment by the EU

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar stated that he does not recognize the appointment of Johannes Hahn as EU Special Representative and that there will be no contact or discussion within the framework of this appointment.

In a written statement, Mr. Tatar stated that the appointment is an internal matter of the EU and has no validity for the Turkish Cypriot side. He also claimed that the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides presents the appointment as a personal victory and tries to equate Hahn with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General.

Tatar argued that the EU is not part of the Cyprus issue process and cannot be part of any equation without the approval of the Turkish Cypriot side. He also mentioned that the process for the 6 initiatives agreed in Geneva continues under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General and under the responsibility of his Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin.

The Turkish Cypriot leader concluded by saying that the Turkish Cypriot "people" defend a vision of a solution that will be formed on the basis of sovereign equality and equal international status.