President Ersin Tatar addresses the Congress of the National Unity Party (UBP)
“A new era for the voice of the Turkish Cypriot people to be heard has begun"
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President Ersin Tatar addressed the Congress of the National Unity Party (UBP), being held at the Atatürk Sports Centre in Lefkoşa on Saturday.
Thanking UBP for their support, President Tatar said he owes his progress in his political journey to the party, and added that they always work in consultation.
"You have always stood by me, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart," President Tatar said.
Pointing out that they are ardously working together with Motherland Republic of Türkiye to present to the whole world the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot People, President Tatar said: "We are working to make our country stronger, for our People to achieve greater prosperity, promoting our national cause, and the recognition of the TRNC so that she will take her rightful place in the world."
Stating that a new era for the Turkish Cypriot people to be heard has begun in order for justice to prevail, President Tatar said that he will not sit at the negotiation table without the "reaffirmation of our sovereign equality and equal international status," and emphasised that he will "indeed continue to put forward this demand, which is a necessity under our national policy".
President Tatar stated that "some, ignoring all that have been undertaken and achieved, have formed a parallel structure for their own personal interests. Acting in a manner that will harm our national position, as if representing the TRNC, they have come together with some political parties from the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and socialist representatives from around the world. . . we will never accept them harming our national position."
Emphasising that the TRNC is an "independent Turkish State", President Tatar drew attention to the importance of the "TRNC being represented with other Turkic States at the summits in Shusha", and said that a "new status has been achieved following the acceptance of the TRNC, with its constitutional name, at the Organisation of Turkic States".
President Tatar emphasised that "with this new status, the geopolitical and geostrateic value of the TRNC and the developments in the eastern Mediterranean have enhanced the importance of our country".
Stating that "if there is to be a settlement, this needs to be based on a cooperative relationship between two sovereign States", President Tatar said that the "TRNC will be a party in a settlement".
"In this context", President Tatar said, "the declaration on the Cyprus issue endorsed by the UBP Congress is important. . .the support that the National Unity Party provides to the national position that is being pursued is very important and valuable."
President Tatar drew attention to the fact that the UBP declaration will "strengthen my hand," and expressed his gratitude to the party.
President Tatar noted that the UBP has 21,000 members eligible to vote at the Congress, adding: "UBP is the largest, most powerful political party of the Turkish Cypriot People,
and is of great importance in terms of providing political direction. I wish for the 23rd Congress of the National Unity Party to be a success."
President Tatar wished success to all candidates and commemorated the individuals who have strengthened the party base and provided great services to the country, and conveyed his respects.