President Ersin Tatar visits Maraş in Commemoration of the third anniversary of the opening of the fenced part of Maraş
Photos
President Ersin Tatar has visited the fenced-part of Maraş in commemoration of the third anniversary of its opening for access to civilians.
Located on the suburbs of Gazimağusa on the east-coast of the TRNC, the fenced-part of Maraş had been opened to civilians in October 2020. Speaking during the visit on Sunday, President Tatar stated that since the gates were opened, Maraş has been visited by 1.4 million people to date, adding to the economic activity in the area.
Walking through the same entrance gate as he had done three years earlier, President Tatar handed members of the public his newly published Turkish-language book titled “Closed Maraş Initiative” and a commemorative plaque marking the third anniversary of the opening of the fenced-part of Maraş.
President Tatar was welcomed with music being played by a military band, and was accompanied by Security Forces Commander Major General Osman Aytaç and Gazimağusa Mayor Süleyman Uluçay during his visit to Maraş.
*“The decision to open this area was legal”*
Speaking to press during the visit, President Tatar said: “The decision to open Maraş was legal, and there have been 1 million 400,000 civilian visits to the area since it was opened three years ago on October 8, 2020. The Maraş initiative has been a significant gain for our country in terms of enhancing economic and tourism activity.”
Stating that the Turkish Security Forces (TSK) and Security Forces of the TRNC (GKK) have meticulously guarded Maraş, President Tatar said: “I wish to thank everybody for their service over many decades to the present day in meticulously guarding Maraş, which is located within the territory of the TRNC. I wish for the gradual opening of the entire fenced-part of Maraş, to be made available for use by the civilians and for these areas to become civilianised.” President Tatar stated that there is a need for an agreement to be reached between contractors and the Cyprus Religious (Evkaf) Foundation for this goal to be reached.
Stating that a book has been published titled "Closed Maraş Initiative" which was prepared by Aydın Akkurt, Advisor to the President, President Tatar stated that Mr Akkurt undertook a comprehensive research of old documents and the National Archives and his findings are documented in the book. The President also paid tribute to Osman Fazıl Polat Paşa, a Turkish Military General who served in the army during the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, who he said was “instrumental in successfully liberating Gazimağusa and Maraş”.
Stating that Maraş had been the subject of previous negotiations which were all rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side, President Tatar said: “Had the Greek Cypriot Side voted in favour of the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan in the separately held simultaneous referenda in 2004, than the fenced-part of Maraş would have been returned. A similar situation had again arisen in Crans-Montana. Despite arduous efforts and good faith of the Turkish Cypriot Side to reach a settlement, the Greek Cypriot Side has rejected federal-based settlement plans and ideas for more than half-a-century. Despite this, the international community and international actors have not honoured the promises to end our isolation even though we voted in favour of the Annan Plan in 2004 which was rejected by the Greek Cypriot Side who, a week later, was unilaterally accepted as a member state to the EU in the name of the whole island. Since this membership, there has been even more injustices committed against the Turkish Cypriot People by the world.”
Explaining the historical process and failure to reach a settlement in Crans-Montana following the rejection of the Greek Cypriot Side, President Tatar said: “Hence, the Turkish Cypriot Side was not going to just sit there and wait, and we have taken a step that is aimed at breaking the unacceptable status-quo. According to our law, according to our struggle, according to our Constitution, and according to the policy we have developed with Motherland Türkiye, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a sovereign State and the fenced-part of Maraş, as well as the open part of the city, is located within the borders of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Therefore, it was legally within our rights to open the fenced-part of Maraş that does not violate international law. We are allowing the former habitants to apply to the European Court of Human Rights endorsed Immovable Property Commission, for an effective domestic legal remedy. Following our consultations with President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we took the initiative to start the gradual opening of the fenced-part of Maraş, which started on October 8, 2020.”
President Tatar thanked Gazimağusa Mayor Süleyman Uluçay, municipality staff and everybody who have contributed to the opening of Maraş. The President also paid tribute to former Gazimağusa Mayor İsmail Arter – who was in office in 2020.