President Ersin Tatar receives Kenan Nafi, President of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations UK and Hakkı Süleyman, Chairperson of the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association of Australia
President Ersin Tatar has paid tribute to the Turkish Cypriots residing abroad and their successes across different walks of life, during a meeting with civil society representatives from the UK and Australia.
Visiting the President together were Kenan Nafi, President of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations UK (CTCA) and Hakkı Süleyman, Chairperson of the Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association of Australia and their delegations.
Speaking during the meeting, President Tatar stated: “It is the first time representatives of civil society organisations from the UK and Australia are visiting the Presidency together, which represents a first. I wish to underline the importance of strengthening the ties of the Turkish Cypriots abroad with their homeland and indeed with each other. Wherever Turkish Cypriots live in the world, their hearts beat as one for the TRNC. We exist as a People, and Turkish Cypriots abroad love and support their homeland. It is important to make use of the technology that exists today that has vastly contributed to the communication of people wherever they happen to live.”
President Tatar said: "Our goal is to strengthen the TRNC, and to successfully pass on our just cause to future generations, who are trying to make a living in their country of residence whilst preserving their culture. Each and every individual is valuable, and it is important to make the best of our potential. The unity of our diaspora is very important in this regard.”
Referring to his visits to the UK and Australia, President Tatar stated: “I have always been aware of the importance of Turkish Cypriots abroad, and as President, expressed my utmost appreciation to the successes of Turkish Cypriots in the UK and Australia, who are important voices abroad for us. I have attended the annually held Turkish Cypriot Cultural Festivals of the CTCA in London that attracted 20,000 turnouts. I also participated in the Turkish Cypriot Festival as well as public meetings with our community in Sydney and Melbourne, and have seen first-hand the love and passion of our people for the TRNC."
President Tatar thanked the civil society representatives from the UK and Australia for their joint visit, adding: “This is certainly a historic moment. We have for the first time civil society representatives from the UK and Australia visiting the Presidency together. I thank you for the visit. I am proud of the successes of Turkish Cypriots abroad and as someone who lived in the UK for many years, understand full well the challenges faced by our people abroad – from learning the Turkish language, to passing down knowledge about our culture and traditions whilst striving to succeed in their respective careers and to bring up a family.”
The President added that during his visits to the UK and Australia, he was touched by the high level of support shown for the two State position he is putting forward as a basis for a realistic and sustainable settlement to the Cyprus issue.
The President added that he places great importance on the cooperation of Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations with one another across the world, and being a voice for an end to the inhumane isolation faced by their own families and loved ones in the TRNC.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Nafi stated that the CTCA is the biggest Turkish Cypriot umbrella organisation in the UK, with 25 civil society organisations, including Turkish schools, lobbying, womens, youth and cultural associations.
“I wish to express our gratitude to President Tatar, who has demonstrated his support to Turkish Cypriots abroad and has as President paid numerous visits over the last four years and participated in the festivals, events and meetings in the UK," Mr. Nafi said. "President Tatar has shown that he is not only the President of Turkish Cypriots in the TRNC, but also the President of Turkish Cypriots all over the world. He has also participated in many Parliamentary meetings and put forward the position of the Turkish Cypriot cause and promoted our country. I believe that the unity and cooperation of Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations in different parts of the world, including the UK and Australia, can make a difference in making our voices louder to the international community. We are Turkish Cypriots who live in opposite sides of the world and I thank President Tatar for bringing us together at the Presidency in our Homeland, the TRNC.”
Mr Süleyman, who thanked the President for the meeting, said he was “touched to be at the Presidency together with representatives of civil society organisations from the UK”.
“Turkish Cypriots living in Australia have a much deeper love and special sense of longing for their homeland, the TRNC, because we are so far away. President Tatar has been the first ever President to visit Australia in this capacity, where he was embraced by thousands of Turkish Cypriots living in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. His visit to Australia was both historic and emotional for the Turkish Cypriots in Australia.”
Mr Süleyman added that the “cooperation of Turkish Cypriot civil society organisations across the globe "will be of huge benefit not only for the TRNC, but also in making the voice of the diaspora stronger.”
Presidential Special Advisor Gökhan Güler and Foreign Press Officer Kerem Haser were also present at the meeting.