President Ersin Tatar delivers an address at the TRNC Cultural and Promotion Days opening gala dinner in Baku, Azerbaijan
“TRNC is the representative of the entire Turkic world in the eastern Mediterranean and in the Blue Homeland”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar has stated in his address at the TRNC Cultural and Promotion Days gala dinner in Baku on Thursday that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is the “representative of the entire Turkic world” in the Blue Homeland and in the eastern Mediterranean.
Addressing the “TRNC Cultural and Promotion Days” opening gala dinner held at the Hilton hotel in the capital of Azerbaijan, President Tatar, who is staging a historic visit to the country with a 200-people delegation, stated that the Turkish Cypriot People are an “inseparable part of the great Turkish nation.” He said he “wishes for the historic visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan to be one of benefit for the deepening of ties in the diplomatic, political, economic, tourism, educational and cultural areas between the TRNC and our brother country, Azerbaijan”. He said that despite being one of the co-owners of the Island of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot People are going through a great struggle to have their equal inherent rights acknowledged and recognised by the international community. “The struggle of my people will most certainly be crowned, and the injustice on Turkish Cypriot People who are under isolation will come to an end,” President Tatar said.
Attending the gala also were First Lady Sibel Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and his wife Zerrin Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, Republic of Türkiye Ambassador to Baku Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cahit Bağcı, TRNC Representative to Baku Ufuk Turganer and the Republic of Azerbaijan Minister of State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov. Also in attendance were Lieutenant General Bahtiyar Ersay, Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) Secretary General Ambassador Mehmet Süreyya Er, European Turkish Islamic ATIB President Cemal Fire, some deputy ministers of Azerbaijan, members of parliament, university rectors, businessmen and officials and representatives of different sectors from TRNC.
The opening gala started with the observation of a minute’s silence and the playing of the national anthems of the two countries, which continued with the screening of the promotional film of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Addressing the participants, President Tatar said he “is delighted and honoured to be with you as we stage this historic visit to our brother country, Azerbaijan”.
President Tatar stated: "As children of the same nation with one destiny, one past and one heart, we have always accepted Azerbaijan as a brother country, alongside our motherland, the Republic of Türkiye. We share the same traditions, culture, national and spiritual values."
President Tatar stressed that the Turkish Cypriot People have “never been alone in our struggle against a mentality that is trying to bring our people on their knees by way of persecution, inhumane embargoes and isolation”. He added that the Turkish Cypriot People “are an inseparable part of the great Turkish nation and the Turkic world”.
Stressing that the TRNC has been unanimously accepted as an observer member to the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) last November, President Tatar said: “The TRNC was accepted as an observer member to the OTS due to the support of President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whom I thank for his support.” President Tatar stated that this development “is an expression and indication of the independence, freedom, liberty and honourable life of the Mujahedeen Turkish Cypriot people”.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Tatar stated: “The Turkish Cypriot People have equal inherent rights – including sovereignty and rights to self-determination -- and are one of the co-owners of the island who exercised this right as one of the co-founders of the partnership Republic of Cyprus in 1960. However, this right was violated in 1963, and the Turkish Cypriot People were expelled by the Greek Cypriot side from the state apparatus of the republic by force of arms in 1963. From 1963 to 1974, the Turkish Cypriot People faced acts of genocide, massacred and forced out of the island under annihilation plans. For more than half a century, the Turkish Cypriot Side have arduously worked for a settlement under a federal basis. However, the Greek Cypriot Side have rejected at least 15 settlement plans and ideas because of the hegemonic mentality and their obsession that Cyprus is a Hellenic island. This is the situation that has been the key obstacle to a settlement for over fifty years. Most notable was the Greek Cypriot Side’s rejection of the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan in the separately held simultaneous referenda in April 2004. Despite this rejection, the Greek Cypriot Side were accepted as an EU member state a week after the referenda, and the next process for a federal-based settlement collapsed again in Crans-Montana in July 2017 despite the good will of the Turkish Cypriot Side.”
President Tatar explained that “negotiations on federal basis have therefore been exhausted. We have tried so many plans and ideas, passed through so many processes and utilised so many different methods to reach a settlement. The Greek Cypriot Side have demonstrated time and time again that they do not wish to share power and prosperity in a partnership with us and they in fact have no incentive as a UN and EU member state, which they are continuing to abuse to further our isolation in the hope that we surrender to their maximalist demands”.
President Tatar said that “we are now putting forward a fresh new policy and vision as a basis for a settlement. We are saying that once the equal inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot Side, – namely our sovereign equality and equal international status, are acknowledged and reaffirmed, then we can start new and formal negotiations”. President Tatar added “my vision is realistic and provides for a sustainable basis of two sovereign States that coexist side-by-side in a cooperative relationship”.
“If there is going to be a settlement, it is going to be based on two States that are in cooperation with one another for the benefit of all, for sustainable peace and stability in the Island of Cyprus and the region,” President Tatar said, adding: “This policy is fully supported by Motherland Türkiye”.
President Tatar thanked the brother country Azerbaijan on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, as tangible steps are being taken to develop ties between the two countries in the diplomatic, political, economic and cultural areas.
“I especially wish to extend my gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, İlham Aliyev, for his support to my country and people,” President Tatar said.
“The Turkish Cypriot People have suffered a lot,” President Tatar continued. “Your brothers and sisters in the TRNC celebrated the victory of Azerbaijan in Karabakh with great excitement. Our prayers were always with you, and we rejoiced at your victory that has truly made Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan, which had always been desired, which has been announced to the whole world.”
Explaining that the TRNC is preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its proclamation on November 15, President Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot People will next year also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation of July 20, 1974. “The TRNC has therefore been consolidated and continues to grow and develop as each day passes. Nobody can ignore the existence of our State and its actions, that is the reality in Cyprus,” President Tatar said, emphasising that there are two Peoples, two States and two democracies in Cyprus and adding: “These realities cannot be ignored. Nobody can pretend that there is one nation in Cyprus. Our language, religion, culture and history are different.”
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot Side have been attempting to bring about the assimilation of Turkish Cypriots by using their EU membership. “They are trying to patch our people as individuals into the State they hijacked in 1963. The Greek Cypriot Side does not have any legitimate right to represent Turkish Cypriots,” President Tatar said. “The island of Cyprus is located just 40 miles south of Motherland Türkiye, and we are the most southern State of the Turkic States in a geopolitical region. . . it is not possible for them or anyone to tear away Turkish Cypriots from Motherland Türkiye,” President Tatar said.
Stating that as the southernmost Turkic state located in the eastern Mediterranean, the role, importance and value of the TRNC within the Turkish world is increasing as each day passes, President Tatar said: “TRNC is not only a piece of land, but also has sovereign rights, maritime jurisdictions, territorial waters, exclusive economic zones. With its regional rights, it is the representative of the entire Turkic world in the Blue Homeland and in the eastern Mediterranean.”
President Tatar stated that the “ties between the TRNC and Azerbaijan have continued to strengthen over recent years which is very pleasing”.
Stating that the Organisation of Turkic States has become even stronger, President Tatar wished that all these relations, historic ties, economic, political, diplomatic and cultural relations will continue to be further developed.
President Tatar said that “with the common alphabet, Turkish can connect future generations with even stronger ties. . . there will be strength in unity. It is indeed our wish that we, who share the same national and spiritual values, become stronger together”.
Thanking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Azerbaijan İlham Aliyev, President Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot people will continue to be an inseparable part of you. I once again convey to you this evening the greetings of your Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters, who have to date continued to face grave injustice, who share the same ideals with you in the motto of establishing a state for themselves.”
Expressing his wish for the historic visit to Baku to be beneficial, President Tatar said: "On behalf of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot People, I extend my heartfelt warm wishes and greetings to our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan.”
President Tatar also thanked the representatives from the TRNC who accompanied him and Prime Minister Üstel, and stated that his wish is for tangible projects and collaborations to be increased across different sectors in the coming years.
Following the address by President Tatar, a folk dancing show was performed by the İskele Municipality Folk Dancing Group.
President Ersin Tatar and First Lady Sibel Tatar subsequently met with the participants at the gala dinner.
Addressing the “TRNC Cultural and Promotion Days” opening gala dinner held at the Hilton hotel in the capital of Azerbaijan, President Tatar, who is staging a historic visit to the country with a 200-people delegation, stated that the Turkish Cypriot People are an “inseparable part of the great Turkish nation.” He said he “wishes for the historic visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan to be one of benefit for the deepening of ties in the diplomatic, political, economic, tourism, educational and cultural areas between the TRNC and our brother country, Azerbaijan”. He said that despite being one of the co-owners of the Island of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot People are going through a great struggle to have their equal inherent rights acknowledged and recognised by the international community. “The struggle of my people will most certainly be crowned, and the injustice on Turkish Cypriot People who are under isolation will come to an end,” President Tatar said.
Attending the gala also were First Lady Sibel Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and his wife Zerrin Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, Republic of Türkiye Ambassador to Baku Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cahit Bağcı, TRNC Representative to Baku Ufuk Turganer and the Republic of Azerbaijan Minister of State Committee on Work with Diaspora Fuad Muradov. Also in attendance were Lieutenant General Bahtiyar Ersay, Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) Secretary General Ambassador Mehmet Süreyya Er, European Turkish Islamic ATIB President Cemal Fire, some deputy ministers of Azerbaijan, members of parliament, university rectors, businessmen and officials and representatives of different sectors from TRNC.
The opening gala started with the observation of a minute’s silence and the playing of the national anthems of the two countries, which continued with the screening of the promotional film of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Addressing the participants, President Tatar said he “is delighted and honoured to be with you as we stage this historic visit to our brother country, Azerbaijan”.
President Tatar stated: "As children of the same nation with one destiny, one past and one heart, we have always accepted Azerbaijan as a brother country, alongside our motherland, the Republic of Türkiye. We share the same traditions, culture, national and spiritual values."
President Tatar stressed that the Turkish Cypriot People have “never been alone in our struggle against a mentality that is trying to bring our people on their knees by way of persecution, inhumane embargoes and isolation”. He added that the Turkish Cypriot People “are an inseparable part of the great Turkish nation and the Turkic world”.
Stressing that the TRNC has been unanimously accepted as an observer member to the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) last November, President Tatar said: “The TRNC was accepted as an observer member to the OTS due to the support of President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whom I thank for his support.” President Tatar stated that this development “is an expression and indication of the independence, freedom, liberty and honourable life of the Mujahedeen Turkish Cypriot people”.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, President Tatar stated: “The Turkish Cypriot People have equal inherent rights – including sovereignty and rights to self-determination -- and are one of the co-owners of the island who exercised this right as one of the co-founders of the partnership Republic of Cyprus in 1960. However, this right was violated in 1963, and the Turkish Cypriot People were expelled by the Greek Cypriot side from the state apparatus of the republic by force of arms in 1963. From 1963 to 1974, the Turkish Cypriot People faced acts of genocide, massacred and forced out of the island under annihilation plans. For more than half a century, the Turkish Cypriot Side have arduously worked for a settlement under a federal basis. However, the Greek Cypriot Side have rejected at least 15 settlement plans and ideas because of the hegemonic mentality and their obsession that Cyprus is a Hellenic island. This is the situation that has been the key obstacle to a settlement for over fifty years. Most notable was the Greek Cypriot Side’s rejection of the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan in the separately held simultaneous referenda in April 2004. Despite this rejection, the Greek Cypriot Side were accepted as an EU member state a week after the referenda, and the next process for a federal-based settlement collapsed again in Crans-Montana in July 2017 despite the good will of the Turkish Cypriot Side.”
President Tatar explained that “negotiations on federal basis have therefore been exhausted. We have tried so many plans and ideas, passed through so many processes and utilised so many different methods to reach a settlement. The Greek Cypriot Side have demonstrated time and time again that they do not wish to share power and prosperity in a partnership with us and they in fact have no incentive as a UN and EU member state, which they are continuing to abuse to further our isolation in the hope that we surrender to their maximalist demands”.
President Tatar said that “we are now putting forward a fresh new policy and vision as a basis for a settlement. We are saying that once the equal inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot Side, – namely our sovereign equality and equal international status, are acknowledged and reaffirmed, then we can start new and formal negotiations”. President Tatar added “my vision is realistic and provides for a sustainable basis of two sovereign States that coexist side-by-side in a cooperative relationship”.
“If there is going to be a settlement, it is going to be based on two States that are in cooperation with one another for the benefit of all, for sustainable peace and stability in the Island of Cyprus and the region,” President Tatar said, adding: “This policy is fully supported by Motherland Türkiye”.
President Tatar thanked the brother country Azerbaijan on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People, as tangible steps are being taken to develop ties between the two countries in the diplomatic, political, economic and cultural areas.
“I especially wish to extend my gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, İlham Aliyev, for his support to my country and people,” President Tatar said.
“The Turkish Cypriot People have suffered a lot,” President Tatar continued. “Your brothers and sisters in the TRNC celebrated the victory of Azerbaijan in Karabakh with great excitement. Our prayers were always with you, and we rejoiced at your victory that has truly made Karabakh a part of Azerbaijan, which had always been desired, which has been announced to the whole world.”
Explaining that the TRNC is preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its proclamation on November 15, President Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot People will next year also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation of July 20, 1974. “The TRNC has therefore been consolidated and continues to grow and develop as each day passes. Nobody can ignore the existence of our State and its actions, that is the reality in Cyprus,” President Tatar said, emphasising that there are two Peoples, two States and two democracies in Cyprus and adding: “These realities cannot be ignored. Nobody can pretend that there is one nation in Cyprus. Our language, religion, culture and history are different.”
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot Side have been attempting to bring about the assimilation of Turkish Cypriots by using their EU membership. “They are trying to patch our people as individuals into the State they hijacked in 1963. The Greek Cypriot Side does not have any legitimate right to represent Turkish Cypriots,” President Tatar said. “The island of Cyprus is located just 40 miles south of Motherland Türkiye, and we are the most southern State of the Turkic States in a geopolitical region. . . it is not possible for them or anyone to tear away Turkish Cypriots from Motherland Türkiye,” President Tatar said.
Stating that as the southernmost Turkic state located in the eastern Mediterranean, the role, importance and value of the TRNC within the Turkish world is increasing as each day passes, President Tatar said: “TRNC is not only a piece of land, but also has sovereign rights, maritime jurisdictions, territorial waters, exclusive economic zones. With its regional rights, it is the representative of the entire Turkic world in the Blue Homeland and in the eastern Mediterranean.”
President Tatar stated that the “ties between the TRNC and Azerbaijan have continued to strengthen over recent years which is very pleasing”.
Stating that the Organisation of Turkic States has become even stronger, President Tatar wished that all these relations, historic ties, economic, political, diplomatic and cultural relations will continue to be further developed.
President Tatar said that “with the common alphabet, Turkish can connect future generations with even stronger ties. . . there will be strength in unity. It is indeed our wish that we, who share the same national and spiritual values, become stronger together”.
Thanking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Azerbaijan İlham Aliyev, President Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot people will continue to be an inseparable part of you. I once again convey to you this evening the greetings of your Turkish Cypriot brothers and sisters, who have to date continued to face grave injustice, who share the same ideals with you in the motto of establishing a state for themselves.”
Expressing his wish for the historic visit to Baku to be beneficial, President Tatar said: "On behalf of the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot People, I extend my heartfelt warm wishes and greetings to our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan.”
President Tatar also thanked the representatives from the TRNC who accompanied him and Prime Minister Üstel, and stated that his wish is for tangible projects and collaborations to be increased across different sectors in the coming years.
Following the address by President Tatar, a folk dancing show was performed by the İskele Municipality Folk Dancing Group.
President Ersin Tatar and First Lady Sibel Tatar subsequently met with the participants at the gala dinner.