President Ersin Tatar holds a press conference at the Office of the Governorship following his contacts in Samsun, Türkiye
"We are putting forward arduous efforts to promote the TRNC everywhere”
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President Ersin Tatar has held a press conference following his contacts in the Turkish City of Samsun, where he evaluated his visit and the Cyprus issue.
Addressing the conference, which was held at the Governorship Office, President Tatar stated that “we have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 20th July Cyprus Peace Operation which saved the Turkish Cypriot People, stopped the atrocities and brought peace to the Island of Cyprus”.
“Important messages were given during the ceremonies that were held in the TRNC with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, there was one particular statement of President Erdoğan that was of significant importance, and that was when he stated that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the apple of the eye of the Republic of Türkiye,” President Tatar said.
“When we observe the latest developments, the Turkish Cypriot Side has been putting forward a new position over the past four years of my Presidency that is fully supported by Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye for a settlement based on our sovereign equality and equal international status. Negotiations that have been held for more than half-a-century on the federal basis have been tried, failed and exhausted. In other words, a power sharing partnership republic with the Greek Cypriots has no meaning anymore. All the opportunities for a comprehensive settlement plan presented under the UN have been rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side, including the 2004 UN Comprehensive Settlement Plan – rejected with an overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriot People in the separately held simultaneous referenda. Despite the Turkish Cypriot acceptance of the plan, the Greek Cypriot Side became a member of the EU in the name of the whole Island, whilst the Turkish Cypriot People who voted in favour of the settlement plan were left isolated and out in the cold,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar added: “I wish to reiterate that we want to open a new page for the Island of Cyprus. Negotiations on the federal basis have been exhausted and that chapter has been closed despite the good intentions and arduous efforts of the Turkish Cypriot Side for a settlement over many decades. The way forward in Cyprus to reaching a realistic and sustainable settlement is on the basis of two States, where the two Sides coexist as neighbours in a cooperative relationship. The Turkish Cypriot People have inherent rights, and the right to determine their own future. Our State is the symbol of our sovereignty and independence.”
Explaining that the Turkish Cypriot People have existed in the Island of Cyprus with a 500-year history and past struggles in the face of many atrocities after being expelled from the 1960 partnership Republic of Cyprus by force of arms due to the aspiration to unite Cyprus with Greece by the Greek Cypriot Side, President Tatar said: “We want to look forward to a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future. The Turkish Cypriot People’s only wish is for peaceful coexistence, on the basis of good neighbourly relations. We want the reaffirmation of our inherent rights, which is not only a historical right, but also enshrined in international agreements. When we look at the developments, the geopolitical, geostrategic, and security issues in the eastern Mediterranean, it is clear that the Turkish Cypriot people can walk this path with their own State. The Island of Cyprus is located just 40 miles away from Türkiye. It is so close that when you wake up in the morning, you can clearly see the Taurus Mountains. When you look from this side, from Türkiye, you see the Five Finger Mountains."
President Tatar stated that the “TRNC has maritime rights, that is, in the Blue Homeland, which extends many more times than its territory of 3,800 square kilometres".
In reference to the 11th Summit of the Heads of State of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) that was recently held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, President Tatar said: “During my address at the OTS summit, I drew attention to the fact that we have a completely different geography, and that we are together with Türkiye defending our national interests both in the Blue Homeland, in the Mediterranean and in the airspace. . . I also pointed out the importance in the relations we enjoy with Motherland Republic of Türkiye, and the significant potential this provides.”
“In other words,” the President continued, “the TRNC indeed has the potential to contribute significantly to the entire Turkic world with its territory, maritime jurisdiction and airspace”.
President Tatar said: "We are putting forward arduous efforts everywhere to promote the TRNC. It is up to the conscience of the world. The factual realities of the Island of Cyprus are that there are two separate Peoples, two States and two democracies. We are an independent People. I always reiterate that the Republic of Türkiye – our Motherland, a guarantor country, that is the most powerful in the region with the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean with her population of 85 million, is behind us. Our recognition by the Republic of Türkiye is worth more to us than many other countries. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements in Kyrgyzstan where he called on the world to recognise the TRNC, and to put an end to the injustices against the Turkish Cypriot people as soon as possible. He called for an end to our inhumane isolation and for diplomatic, economic and political relations to be established with us. The whole Turkic world supports this at heart. Many Islamic countries also support us, but unfortunately, as Turkish President Erdoğan said, a ‘fairer world is needed'. The Secretary General of the UN himself stated that we live in an unjust world."
“They are playing all sorts of games in order to sever the strong bond that exists between us and Türkiye”
Stating that the TRNC has relations with all Turkic States, President Tatar said: “However, I am aware of the pressures that are being placed on them, particularly by the EU. Who is a part of the EU? Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration. The EU is not an impartial actor. The Greek Cypriot Side is using EU mechanisms to exert pressure on countries that even invite me to participate in international summits, and are putting forward obstructionist policies aimed at damaging our economy.”
President Tatar stated that the Greek Cypriot Side has still not lost its hope for a ‘reunited’ Cyprus, and are telling these countries “not to dare to recognise Northern Cyprus,” adding: “They want the future to be a united Cyprus. With a united Cyprus, the North and the South will be a part of the European Union they say, and they claim this will be better for the Turkish Cypriots. They are playing all sorts of games in order to sever the strong bonds that exists between us and Türkiye. These threats and approaches are causing our formal recognition by other countries to be delayed. However, there are factual realities in the Island of Cyprus, which are that there are two Peoples, two States and two democracies. There is no going back from this. We will continue to put forward our new vision and position for a two State based settlement for the benefit of all, to make the Island of Cyprus one of sustainable peace, prosperity and good neighbourly relations, in an otherwise volatile region. My struggle is for the reaffirmation of our inherent rights, the ending of our inhumane isolation and reinstatement of our human rights, and I will not give up!”