Addressing the December 7, International Civil Aviation Day symposium, President Ersin Tatar emphasises: “We must be considered as interlocutors in order to further develop our economy...
Addressing the December 7, International Civil Aviation Day symposium, President Ersin Tatar emphasises: “We must be considered as interlocutors in order to further develop our economy, improve the standard of living and be able to travel freely to our country”
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President Ersin Tatar attended the December 7, International Civil Aviation Day symposium organised by University of Mediterranean Karpasia today.
Speaking at the event, the President began his speech by paying tribute to Deputy Ahmet Erbaş, who has “been instrumental through his service to the success of the university,” and who is “committed to the Cyprus national cause”. The President added that he is pleased to attend the symposium, which he said is of great importance on December 7, International Civil Aviation Day.
Emphasising the importance of tourism and aviation as an island country, President Tatar said that the continuation of the injustice on Turkish Cypriot people in the political sense is a great disappointment. Pointing out that the major countries which champion human rights in the world, continue to be act unfairly towards the Turkish Cypriot people – which has been the case for the past 60 years. President Tatar referred to the Chicago Convention, stating that the world considered the Makarios government to be the sole authority of the island of Cyprus, despite the expulsion at force of arms of the Turkish Cypriot people from the state apparatus of what was a partnership state based on equality of the two co-founding partners.
The President said that the ‘Republic of Cyprus’, which transformed into a solely Greek Cypriot-run administration, was treated as if it were the legitimate government of the entire island. Stating that the world sees and respects the fact that there are two separate peoples in Cyprus, President Tatar stated that for this reason, the UN has been addressing the two leaders separately in relation to the negotiation processes that have been going on for decades.
President Tatar said: "However, even if there is no political recognition, we should be considered as interlocutors on vital issues, developing our economy, improving our quality of life and enabling us to travel freely from our own ports."
President Tatar stated that the TRNC, which has all the elements necessary to constitute the effective functioning of a State, is continuing to be subject to the Chicago Convention which is creating an unjust situation for the Turkish Cypriot people, who are being denied direct flights due to the restrictions”.
President Tatar said: “Flights to the TRNC are possible due to the touchdown in Turkey. At this point, I always express my gratitude to the Republic of Turkey because countries that we know as our friends are also hesitant about flights.”
Expressing that there have been direct flights to various provinces of Turkey which has been the case for many years, the President said there were plans to increase the number of destinations to more provinces of Turkey in the future. President Tatar added: "As our window which allows us to open to the rest of the world, with the facilitation of transportation to various parts of Turkey, I am optimistic that this will attract more arrivals, business leaders and investors as well as students from Turkey and beyond. Expressing that in addition to the measures implemented due to the pandemic, the President said that there were also measures taken during landing and take-off of aircraft which is aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.