President Ersin Tatar addresses the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organisation of Turkic States in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
“We have the potential to contribute to the Turkic World”
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President Ersin Tatar has addressed the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic.
President Tatar expressed that he is happy to be there and thanked Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, for inviting him to the summit “that is being held in the lands of our forefathers”.
Pointing out that the “Kyrgyz people have existed in these lands with their independence, cultural, national and spiritual values together with the Karahan Turkic State for a thousand years”, President Tatar expressed his gratitude to President Japarov and the Kyrgyz People for their hospitality.
Stating that he is in “spiritual peace and happiness for being in the Kyrgyz Republic, which has the unique cultural treasures of the Turkic World”, President Tatar drew attention to the “importance of participating in the summit for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.
“Our strength lies in the unity and coexistence of Turkic States, which share the same language, religion, culture, roots and lineage,” President Tatar said.
Emphasising that “importance is given to the development of economic relations and cooperation between countries as stated in the 2040 vision of the organisation”, President Tatar noted that “efforts are being made to revitalise the Silk Road project, which is of historical and cultural significance for Turkic States,” adding that the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has geostrategic importance as a country located in the eastern Mediterranean on the crossroads of three major continents”.
Emphasising that the “connections of the Turkic World in the eastern Mediterranean have been strengthened with the membership of the TRNC to the Organisation of Turkic States, President Tatar said: “The institutions of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is an integral part of the Turkic World, will continue with determination to contribute across different areas where the OTS operates.
The President also referred to the “inhumane isolation that continues to be imposed on the Turkish Cypriot People,” and said: “It is important for support to be given to end the inhumane isolation that is continuing to be imposed on my People”.
Stating that the” TRNC has the potential to contribute to the Turkic World with its power and capacity”, President Tatar stated that “Ercan Airport and Gazimağusa Trade Port create important opportunities in this regard”.
Pointing out that “three universities in the TRNC – a country that is a haven for education, are among the top thousand universities in the world”, President Tatar emphasised that the country has the “potential to become a base for science”.
President Tatar stated that the “Project of the Century” – which provides 75 million m3 of fresh water per annum via an 80km undersea pipeline running from the Republic of Türkiye to the TRNC that was constructed with the vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, “has provided us significant potential in agriculture and food security”. President Tatar emphasised the importance of the contribution to the energy sector following the discovery of hydrocarbon resources around the Island of Cyprus.
Stating that more than one million tourists visit the TRNC annually, President Tatar added that “we are proud to have significantly developed our service sector and world-class hotels”, adding that the country “offers great opportunities to future investors with its developed infrastructure open to investment, manpower and multicultural structure”.
Emphasising that the “TRNC is the representative and indomitable guardian of the rights and interests of the Turkic World in the eastern Mediterranean”, President Tatar stated that the State was established in 1983 with the Turkish Cypriot People exercising their right to self-determination, and that the republic is continuing to develop despite the difficulties.
“I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his call to the leaders of the world at the 77th, 78th and 79th sessions of the UN General Assembly, where he called on the international community to formally recognise the TRNC, to end our isolation, and to establish economic, political and diplomatic relations with us,” President Tatar said.
The President reiterated his gratitude to the Kyrgyz Republic and President Japarov for inviting him to the summit and for the hospitality being shown to him and his delegation, adding: “I thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak about the realities and facts on the ground in Cyprus. I place great importance on your support on focusing on initiatives regarding the recognition of the TRNC in the Turkic World, and for a realistic and sustainable settlement in Cyprus.”
President Tatar took part in the family photo with the heads of state of member countries before the official opening of the summit.