President Ersin Tatar’s written message commemorating the holy occasion of Eid-ul-Adha
President Ersin Tatar has issued a written message commemorating the holy occasion of Eid-ul-Adha
The message reads as follows:
“In these lands we have for centuries made our own homeland, we are once again commemorating with great faith and excitement the Eid-al-Adha, together with the whole Islamic world.
It is amongst our greatest duties to keep alive and protect values such as love, unity, togetherness, tolerance, sharing and social solidarity, and to pass on these values to future generations.
It should be our common objective to look at the future with hope, to focus on solutions and not fall into the trap of falsely believing that we are unable to find remedies and a common goal for a better future.
Motherland Türkiye recently held the Presidential and General elections, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been re-elected for a new five-year term in an election that saw record-levels of voters turning out, in a show of political maturity and democracy in the Republic of Türkiye. Paying his first visit abroad to the TRNC, President Erdoğan and his delegation have yet again demonstrated the importance given by Türkiye to our country, and the support to our constructive and results-oriented policy that is based on the axis of shared wisdom. I fully believe that we will overcome the economic and social difficulties through cooperation and solidarity.
In this context, it is a certainty that the Century of Türkiye will not only be significant and important to our Motherland, but also to the TRNC and our region.
I sincerely believe that the sacred historical ties between the TRNC and the Republic of Türkiye will be further strengthened in the new period.
As a President who sincerely believes in diplomacy, my only goal is is to reach a fair, viable and sustainable agreement in Cyprus that is realistic in that it takes into consideration the current facts on the ground and guarantees the security and peaceful coexistence of both the Turkish Cypriot People and the Greek Cypriot People as two friendly neighbours.
The way to reaching this is not to insist on negotiations on the same failed federal basis, which has proven to be unsuccessful time and time again for more than half-a-century, but to hold formal negotiations that is based on the acceptance of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two States, which is the most realistic approach that will benefit the island of Cyprus and the region.
The historic call by President Erdoğan, inviting the international community to formally recognise the TRNC during his address at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly on September 20, 2022, has added strength to our just struggle for justice. This call was followed by another historical development, when the TRNC gained the status as an observer member with its constitutional name at the Organisation of Turkic States during the summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in November 2022.
Not being able to start formal negotiations until a common ground is found, should not prevent us from taking steps that will be to the benefit of the island of Cyprus and the region.
The Turkish Cypriot Side has taken concrete steps that aim to build a structured cooperative relationship with the aim of developing good neighbourly relations which will be of benefit to both Sides.
My call to the Greek Cypriot Side in these blessed days is to stop arming and carrying out activities that escalate tensions between the two Sides, and to respond positively to our call for dialogue. We regret to observe that the outdated mentality of the Greek Cypriot leadership has not changed as they are continuing to praise and glorify the EOKA terrorist organisation that caused significant amounts of bloodshed in Cyprus, and there are still chants "Turks out of Cyprus", which is a clear demonstration of the level of hostility that continues to exist towards Turkish people.
I would also like to take this opportunity on this blessed Eid-ul-Adha, to draw attention to the importance of universal concepts and values such as tolerance between cultures and religions, freedom of belief, faith, thought and worship, which are needed by all humanity.
The xenophobia that has been increasing and unfortunately becoming politicised in Europe, which has been considered the cradle of human rights, democracy, and freedom of thought for the last 10 years. This marginalisation of immigrants, discrimination, enmity and prejudice against Islam and Muslims, which is defined as Islamophobia in literature, is continuing to increase.
Such outdated approaches pose a threat to the entire humanity and places a dynamite against world peace. In the face of attacks on our historical, religious and cultural assets, the relevant administration should immediately take necessary actions against the perpetrators of such hate crimes.
Our common aspiration should be to create a peaceful planet that is based on the cooperation of different nations, so that we can proudly leave this world a far better place for our children.
Whilst our wish is for peace, prosperity and love to prevail all over the world during Eid ul-Adha, we are also watching with sadness and concern other ongoing conflicts and violence in many countries worldwide. As the President of a people who have suffered conflicts, migration, violence, and inhumane isolation, I wish for an end to all conflicts and terrorism, and for peace and coexistence to prevail for all humanity.
I wish Eid ul-Adha to be a blessing for the Turkish Cypriot People, the Turkish nation and the entire Islamic world.”