Tatar: Turkey’s military presence in Cyprus is our red line

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Ersin Tatar said Turkey’s military presence on the island is a “red line.”

Speaking at a press conference at the airport after returning from New York, where he met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, Tatar stressed that the Cyprus issue can only be resolved under a “two-state” principle.

He said he raised the idea of cooperation between the north and south during the talks, but the Greek side showed little interest.

“We expect the embargoes to be lifted, but the opposite happens, and the other side continues its aggressive behavior,” Tatar said.

The TRNC leader also rejected Christodoulides’s claims that he was escalating tensions.