UK can help tackle Europe’s energy shortage by resolving Cyprus crisis

President Tatar has told Express.co.uk that he is “extremely disappointed” that the UK has not taken a “fair and balanced” view on the Cyprus crisis which has been ongoing now for almost five decades. President Tatar spoke to Express.co.uk before meeting peers and MPs in Parliament where he pointed out that gas reserves in Cypriot waters can be released for Europe if a solution can be found.The meeting came ahead of the self-declared state, which was only officially recognised by Turkey, having a major diplomatic breakthrough last week after being welcomed into the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer member. The Cyprus crisis has been ongoing since 1974 when the island split into two entities following a Greek nationalist junta took over the island with the intention of making it part of Greece.The ethnic fighting, with claims of attempted genocide against the Turkish Cypriots, saw Turkey invade the north of the island and in effect set up the TRNC which then declared full independence a year ago tomorrow (Monday November 15) in 1983.Attempts to resolve the crisis with a federal solution have all since failed with the Greek Cypriots in the south voting down a deal put together by former United Nations general secretary Kofi Annan in 2004 after a last minute change of heart by the then Cyprus president Tassos Papadopoulos who told Cypriots not to back it.Despite reneging on the deal, Cyprus was still allowed to become a member of the European Union the following week.UN sponsored talks took place in the last two years but have broken down President Tatar insisting that a federal solution is “dead” and that a two state solution must now be agreed.In London last week, President Tatar insisted that no talks can now take place until past agreements where the Turkish entity is “sole equality” is recognised.The President of the self-declared state, which was only officially recognised by Turkey, has had a major diplomatic breakthrough this week after being welcomed into the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer.  Ersin Tatar is the President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (Image: TRNC)He pointed out that the issue has become more serious with hydrocarbons – particularly gas supplies – being discovered in Cypriot waters including near North Cyprus.With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine causing massive energy supply shortages in Europe, the supplies could help resolve the problems.But President Tatar said that a solution to the Cyprus crisis needs to be found first.He said: “We are prepared to organise a committee to oversee oil exploration.”They are giving licences to foreign countries without any involvement of Turkish Cypriots. We are partners.”He went on: “The international community should preserve the balance between Turkey and Greece. The world should wake up to the reality that there are two states.”If you want to have a solution or end this situation if you want to have better prosperity in the years ahead, you have take into account the Turkish republic.”READ MORE: Turkey considers using Nato expansion talks to end Cyprus dispute Foreign Secretary James Ckleverly will come under pressure to help resolve the dispute (Image: GETTY)Mr Tatar said that there was huge commercial opportunities for both sides in making a deal and for Cyprus to cooperate with Turkey.He said: “Turkish ports, Turkish airspace is a commercial ally for tourism, commerce economics all sorts of other services. We have to be sensible in how to find a future settlement Cyprus which would get the agreement of both sides.” But he added: “We demand that our sole equality is recognised. It was already accepted in the 1960s. “Our new policy and new vision unless our soul equality as a national status is recognised, we will not be able to formally resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem.”DON’T MISS’Rishi Sunak should end the Cyprus merry-go-round’ [INSIGHT]World leaders should have held COP27 conference by Zoom – poll [REVEAL]Have your say on whether the UK should fork out for climate damage [REACT] President Erdogan of Turkey (Image: GETTY)The UK, which has two bases on the island is one of the guarantors of peace along with Turkey and Greece.Cyprus is still a member of the Commonwealth and was a British colony and is likely to be on Foreign secretary James Cleverly’s desk.Some Tory MPs are privately backing the two state solution but the UK, which some sources claimed was looking at the idea, has cooled off on the proposal for now.The stakes have been raised in the last week though, 39 years after declaring independence, with the Orgqanisation of Turkic States agreeing to the TRNC to become an observer member.Until then only Turkey recognised the TRNC which the UK even refuses to allow direct flights to despite many British expats living in North Cyprus.Respondng to the OTS invitatiin, President Tatar said: ‘We have been encouraged by this positive development and we will continue our honourable struggle unabated.'”I am extremely proud to announce that our State, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has been granted observer member status to the Organisation of Turkic States.   It is the first time the TRNC has been admitted into an international organisation with its constitutional name. This is a momentous event in our history that is a source of pride for us.”We are very happy that our observer membership was unanimously accepted at the 9th Summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.”