President Ersin Tatar met with Erenköy Freedom Fighters Association chairman Mustafa Arıkan and Board Members Zihni Halilhan, Necati Erçıkan, Fadıl İncirli and Enver Yetkili. During the meeting, the President said that the Erenköy freedom fighters are invaluable for our people both in the Erenköy Resistance and with their subsequent services. The President commemorated Erenköy fighters who passed away, including former Prime Minister, Irsen Küçük. Stating that the Erenköy Resistance has been described as a turning point where, in the Turkish Cypriot history, the national cause was defended and won.  President Tatar said that Erenköy for Turkish Cypriots carry the same significance as Çanakkale (Gallipoli) Resistance carries  for the Turkish nation.




"ERENKÖY IS THE PLACE WHERE OUR HEROISM WAS ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD AND WHERE HISTORY WAS MADE"   


President Tatar stated that valued heroes, such as pilot Cengiz Topel had taken part in the Erenköy Resistance, adding that 1,571 saplings had been planted in Erenköy last Sunday – which he said symbolises 1571 – the year when Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.

Stating that "Erenköy territories belong to the Turkish Cypriots, the President said that Erenköy is the place where our national struggle and heroism were announced to the whole world and where we made history. He emphasized the importance of environmental protection and greening of the area, highlighting the importance of protecting the  7.5 km of coastline and preparing the region for the future.

The President said that subsequent to the events in Erenköy, the justified  intervention of Turkey in 1974 and following the establishment of TRNC,   many things have happened and  by proclamation of their own state and determining their own future, the Turkish Cypriot people have announced their just cause to the world. 




“THE INTENTION OF THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE IS TO PATCH THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS "


Pointing out that the whole world knows what happened in the referenda of the Annan Plan and the failures of the lengthy federal based negotiations, President Tatar stated that they explained to the whole world that settlement on federal basis has proven not to be possible.   Pointing out that the other side’s perception of “federation” is very different to perception of Turkish Cypriot side, President Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot people’s expectations are to continue to live in the safety in their own sovereign state and under their own roof, but it is clear that the Greek Cypriot side intends to patch the Turkish Cypriots onto the Republic of Cyprus and to eliminate the Turkish Cypriots within a unitary state under the roof of a “federation.”




“TURKISH CYPRIOTS WILL NEVER SAY YES TO AN IMPOSED SOLUTION”

The President said that the Turkish Cypriots are now expressing to the world that they can only approve an agreement based on the cooperation of two states living side by side based on sovereign equality and added “Turkish Cypriots will never say yes to an imposed solution.”  Referring to the struggle of the Founding President Rauf R. Denktaş, President Tatar recalled founding President Denktaş saying that “we will never give up our sovereignty” and pointed out that Denktaş always emphasised the importance of sovereignty.


President Ersin Tatar stated that, as one of the two founding partners of the Republic of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot people, with their own territories, religion, language and culture, fulfil all the criteria to exist as separate people with the right of self-determination. Pointing out that the UN Secretary General has indicated the possibility of attending the meeting to be held in Geneva with new ideas, President Tatar emphasised the importance of the Turkish Cypriot side having the full support of the Republic of Turkey.

The President pointed out that it will be the first time sovereign equality, cooperation of the two states coexisting side by side and equal status of  Turkish Cypriots with the Greek side in the international community will be mentioned.

President Tatar stated that the recognition of the Greek Administration as the only legitimate government of Cyprus with the unjust and political UN decision dated March 4, 1964 is one of the injustices for the Turkish Cypriots and added that another injustice was accepting the EU membership of the Greek Cypriot side despite them rejecting the Annan Plan.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot people are being unjustly treated because of unfair superiority of the Greek Cypriot side. President Tatar said that all of these are also conveyed by the Special Representative M. Ergün Olgun, who is an Erenköy freedom fighter.

Mustafa Arıkan expressed his support to the President Tatar for his policy and emphasized the importance of continuing the effective and de facto guarantorship of the Motherland.