President Ersin Tatar addresses the main ceremony at the Dr. Fazıl Küçük Boulevard commemorating the 48th anniversary of the 20 July Cyprus Peace Operation
“The Turkish Cypriot Side desires a fair, permanent and sustainable settlement to be reached through a negotiations process in Cyprus. The sovereign equality and equal international status of the two existing Sides need to be acknowledged for this.”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar participated in the main ceremony that was held to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the July 20 Cyprus Peace Operation at the Dr Fazıl Küçük Boulevard in Lefkoşa.
The President, addressing the ceremony which was also attended by the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay and other foreign dignitaries, underlined the Turkish Cypriot Side’s forward-looking position on peace and stability in Cyprus and the region.
He added that they are happy and honoured to be realising with great enthusiasm and excitement, the 48th anniversary of the 20 July 1974 Peace Operation, which brought the Turkish Cypriot people “illumination, freedom and independence”.
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot side desires a fair, permanent and sustainable agreement in Cyprus through formal negotiations, adding: “The sovereign equality of the two existing Sides and their equal international status must be acknowledged for this.”
The National Address of President Tatar was also broadcast on BRT State media.
“The settlement proposal in Geneva and the beginning of a new era”
Stating that negotiations for an equality-based settlement had been exhausted due to continuous rejections by the Greek Cypriot Side, the President stated that he received a new mandate from the People. “Accordingly, I put forward new proposals for the basis of a settlement at the 5+UN informal meeting that was held in Geneva in April 2021 upon the invitation of the UN Secretary-General,” the President added. “This has started a new era. At this point, our expectation from other countries and international actors, especially the UN and the EU, is for them to warn the Greek Cypriot Side and to encourage them to accept the sovereign equality and equal international status. This is our inherent right.”
“No one should expect us to blindly trust the current Greek Cypriot heirs, who have been taking action to make Cyprus a Hellenic State and who constantly express this objective”
Pointing out that the 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day is the noblest proof that Turkish Cypriots won the struggle to live in freedom in their own country forever, the President paid tribute to the martyrs and veterans for their sacrifices and expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye “for standing firmly by the side of the Turkish Cypriot People during the difficult years”.
“On this happy anniversary, I commemorate with respect and gratitude our Leader of the freedom and independence struggle Dr. Fazıl Küçük, our Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş as well as the Turkish Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the time, Bülent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. May they all rest in eternal peace,” the President said.
President Tatar recalled that the island was temporarily leased in 1878 to Britain, who later unilaterally annexed the island in 1914 when the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo's attempt to make Cyprus a Hellenic Island intensified. “It was then that the resistance and struggle of the Turkish Cypriot People had started,” he said.
The President added: “The goal of the EOKA terrorist organisation, which was put into force in 1955, was to exterminate the Turkish Cypriot People and make Cyprus a Hellenic Island. Our people showed an epic resistance against these futile attempts under the leadership of the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) and succeeded in becoming the equal founding partner of the Republic of Cyprus, which was established in 1960. The contribution of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, Adnan Menderes, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatih Rüştü Zorlu, in the London and Zurich negotiations was very important. I commemorate them with respect. However, the Greek Cypriot leadership, who saw the Republic of Cyprus as a ‘springboard for annexing the island with Greece (ENOSIS)', was also putting into action with its secret organisation and armament activities, the Akritas Plan, which was a plan designed to annihilate the Turkish Cypriot people on the island. Makarios, Yorgacis, Clerides, and Papadopoulos were the ones who prepared and organised the Akritas Plan… Nobody should expect that we can blindly trust this fanaticism and their heirs who have usurped the state in which they live in order to make it a Hellenic State and who have always expressed this with their words and actions.”
Referring to how the Greek Cypriot Side had forcefully expulsed the Turkish Cypriots out of the state apparatus of the partnership state with the use of force of arms as part of efforts to make Cyprus a Greek island, the President said: “As well as trampling over all the rights granted to the Turkish Cypriot people in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the vicious Greek Cypriot attacks on the Turkish Cypriots began on December 21, 1963, which is known as Bloody Christmas in our history. Our people were massacred ruthlessly and buried in pits and mass graves, our children brutally murdered in their bathing rooms, more than 25,000 of our people were forced to migrate from 103 Turkish villages across the island of Cyprus, which were subjected to arson attacks and destroyed in order to prevent their return, compelling them to stay in tents and caves. Our mosques and holy places were also destroyed…” The President stated that the international community had at the time witnessed the atrocities committed against Turkish Cypriots between 1963 to 1974, and “how our People were forced to live under siege and imprisoned in ghettos in areas comprising three per cent of the island’s territory”.
“The Turkish Cypriot People lived in refugee tents for 11 years under the most difficult and hardest conditions, were tortured in humiliating barricades, murdered, abducted and pushed into hunger and poverty,” the President said. “Despite all these pains and suffering, our people never gave up hope in the Republic of Türkiye; they carried on resisting with the support of the Motherland Türkiye, did not surrender and did not become prisoners. They did not allow the honour and dignity of being Turkish to be trampled over and held their heads high. At the cost of life and bloodshed, our flags remained hoisted, and the call to prayers never stopped. An epic was written in Cyprus in a way that matches the glorious history of the Turkish nation.”
The President also remined that the “military junta administration in Greece and the EOKA terrorist organisation had declared the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’ with the fascist coup d’état on July 15, 1974, with the “main goal being to exterminate our people and annex Cyprus to Greece”.
“The freedom sun on the beaches of Girne”
President Tatar explained that “the very existence of Turkish Cypriot people were under threat during the 11 years of attacks, and this had culminated with the declaration of the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus.’
“Against this great danger, Ankara was determined this time. Motherland Türkiye, exercising her obligation as a Guarantor stemming from international agreements, launched the Cyprus Peace Operation on the morning of July 20, 1974. On the morning of July 20, as the sun of freedom was rising on the shores of Girne, Turkish soldiers were landing in Cyprus and embracing the mujahideen [Turkish Cypriot freedom fighters]. The Turkish Cypriot people, who had never taken their eyes off the Taurus Mountains for many years could not hold back the tears of joy when they saw the Mehmetcik (Turkish soldiers) descending with parachutes on the Beşparmak skies that Saturday morning. Ninety-six years of longing had at last come to an end. Just as in the Erenköy epic, the people embraced each other with jubilation, saying 'they [Turkish army] have finally come, they are here, we are safe'. Meanwhile, our people were being massacred by Greek Cypriot soldiers and EOKA members in areas that Turkish soldiers could not reach. The massacres in Taşkent, Atlılar, Muratağa and Sandallar and what happened in Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca and other regions are the biggest proof of Greek Cypriot barbarism and savagery.
Today, if we live in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as sovereign people in freedom and without any fear, we owe this to the great sacrifice and resistance of our people, to our martyrs, to our heroic mujahideen and Mehmetçik (Turkish soldiers) and Motherland Türkiye.”
Referring to the “sacred struggle” put forward by the Turkish Cypriot People in “defending our existence and every inch of our country’s lands,” the President referenced the verse of the Turkish National Anthem, which was written by the great poet of Turkish literature, Mehmet Akif Ersoy:
“Who would not sacrifice their life for this paradise of a country?
Martyrs would burst forth should one simply squeeze the soil! Martyrs!
May God take my life, my loved ones, and all possessions from me if He wills,
But let Him not deprive me of my one true homeland in the world.
I commemorate our martyrs with gratitude once again, may they rest in eternal peace and I salute our veterans with respect and appreciation."
President Tatar recounted that since the period he served as Prime Minister, he has been following the Covid-19 pandemic closely and has led the country in taking effective measures by strengthening the infrastructure of the health service and opening the Emergency Hospital in Lefkoşa with the help of Motherland Türkiye.
Emphasising that he has also been continuing to follow the pandemic process after he was elected as President, President Tatar said that as a result of the initiatives, a total of 720,320 doses of vaccinations from Motherland Türkiye and a total of 257,928 doses from the EU have been delivered to the country so far.
“I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of myself and on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has not spared his support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus under all circumstances and who stands by the Turkish Cypriots in every field,” the President said.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Fuat Oktay, who, as always, contributed greatly to the implementation of the 2022 Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol. The TRNC has very suitable conditions to advance in tourism, higher education sector, informatics, light industry, construction and real estate sector and agriculture and animal husbandry. We thank Türkiye for the annual 75 million m3 of water that is transported via undersea pipelines to our drought hit country. I would also like to express my belief that we can and will achieve success in all sectors in order to revive and strengthen the economy,” the President added.
“Turkey's guarantee and the presence of the Turkish security forces are important”
President Tatar also made reference to international developments and how this has justified the political position taken by the Turkish Cypriot Side. “When we observe the developments that continues in Ukraine today, we see once again how important it is for us to have the guarantee of Motherland Türkiye and the presence of the Turkish security forces in Cyprus,” the President said. “On the other hand, it is useful to draw attention to the dangers and risks regarding the security of the country and the region arising from the relations of the Greek Cypriot administration with the PKK terrorist group, which came to the agenda again after the Greek Cypriot Side granted permission to the PYD, the political arm of PKK, to open a representative office in South Cyprus last January.
“I underline that there is no difference between the PKK and PYD/YPG, which the TRNC Council of Ministers have enlisted as being terrorist organisations . . .the endeavours of some to make distinctions between the organisations in question have no meaning for the TRNC State. I invite the Greek Cypriot administration to reconsider its relations with terrorism and terrorist organisations and to stop collaborating with them, because they are a threat to the humanity of the world and have political motives.”
The President stated that the “most recent example of the damage that terrorism has inflicted on humanity and democracy is the coup attempt carried out by the FETO terrorist organisation, which is insidious and supported by foreign powers, on July 15, 2016, with the aim of disrupting the Republic of Türkiye and destroying the national will. With this treacherous attempt, a dangerous process has come to pass that would have affected the security not only of Motherland Türkiye, but also of the Turkish Cypriot people. Fortunately, while this coup attempt against the unity, independence and democracy of Motherland Türkiye was suppressed by the Turkish people and the security forces affiliated with the State and the Turkish Cypriot people opposed this coup from the very first moment and stood by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government,” he said.
“One of the main reasons for the continuation of the Cyprus problem is Resolution 186”
President Tatar stated that one of the main reasons why the Cyprus problem still continues is due to the “unlawful Resolution 186” that was adopted by the UN Security Council on March 4, 1964. He said this Resolution had treated the Greek Cypriot Side as being the sole authority and ‘Republic of Cyprus’. “However, the Turkish Cypriot co-partners were forced out of the state apparatus which has since been turned into a Greek state. While the Greek Cypriot side gains strength from this unfair and political decision, it continues its intransigence and is playing for time. This decision constitutes the biggest obstacle to a settlement and unless the imbalance created by this decision between the two sides is eliminated, the Greek Cypriot side will not accept any solution,” the President stated.
President Tatar added: “Another obstacle in front of a solution is the unilateral and biased attitude and stance of the European Union. The Greek Cypriot side continues to maintain its uncompromising stance by gaining strength and courage from this. What happened during the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan referenda process in 2004? Many EU Member States, including the EU, have not kept promises they made to the Turkish Cypriot people. The Greek Cypriot side, who voted against the settlement plan itself, has been unfairly made a member of the EU. The Greek Cypriot side thinks that it can impose any form of solution it wishes by using EU membership as a threat and blackmail. Meanwhile, despite the promises made by the EU, the inhumane isolation against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and our people still continues. All these are reasons to question the EU principles, values and justice.
“The time has come for the Turkic world to take steps towards cooperation with the TRNC”
“I would like to make a call to the Turkic world from here… At this point in time, the time has come for steps to be taken to co-operate in every field with the TRNC who is the representative of the Turkish world in the eastern Mediterranean,” the President said. “Another objective of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo and certain circles is to break our ties with Motherland Türkiye, to isolate our people and to force us to accept an imposed solution. While various provocations and operations are being carried out that is aimed at creating an impression for this objective, it is not possible for them to be successful. The Turkish Cypriot people are deeply attached and inseparable from Motherland Türkiye. We should not forget that the Turkish Cypriots cannot exist without the support of the Republic of Türkiye.”
President Tatar also recalled that during his Prime Ministry period, a major initiative was commenced regarding the fenced part of Maraş [Varosha] in 2020, and underlined that some public areas and the sea coast were opened for the use of the public in accordance with international law and human rights. “In this context, an area making up 3.5 per cent of the fenced part of Maraş was removed from being categorised as a military area, and put under civil control,” the President said. “Former inhabitants can now seek an effective domestic legal remedy by applying to the European Court of Human Rights sanctioned Immovable Property Commission.”
President Tatar added that “the eastern Mediterranean is not the property of the Greek Cypriot side, which transformed the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ into a Greek state by force of arms”, adding: “Whilst the Greek Cypriot side continues its natural gas exploration and drilling activities with some countries who do not even have a coast in the eastern Mediterranean, they are trying to exclude TRNC and Türkiye -- which has the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, to push us out of the equation and to claim natural resources for themselves.”
He said the Greek Cypriot side did not even respond to the proposals for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in the seas surrounding the island, through a committee to be formed with the participation of the two Sides as equals. “We will not stand by as a spectator against the 'dominant' mentality of the Greek Cypriot side,” the President said. “We are determined to protect our rights and interests over the natural resources on which we have equal rights, together with Motherland Türkiye.”
“A new era has started with regards to the Cyprus issue”
President Tatar said: “A new era has been started in the Cyprus issue because negotiation processes which started decades ago and continued for many years have ended in failure due to the negative and uncompromising attitude of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo. In particular, the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan referenda period of 2004 and the events in Crans Montana in 2017 have once again revealed that a federal-based solution is not possible. While the Greek Cypriot side rejected our inherent equality and sovereignty rights in the meeting in Crans Montana, they continued to insist on a solution that would evolve the usurped state in the South into a unitary state, under the umbrella of the Greek Cypriot dominated so-called 'Republic of Cyprus' -- with 'zero troops, zero guarantees'. . We could never accept this imposition.”
“Prior to the 2020 Presidential election, I shared the new vision with my people by bringing up the existence of two separate sovereign States and a settlement that is based on the equal footing and cooperation across different fields between the two Sides. With my election as the President, our people showed great support to this new vision. Our new policy, which is also fully supported by Motherland Türkiye, the largest and most powerful country in the region, is the only solution for the benefit of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. This is indeed how, based on the lessons of the past, we can build sustainable peace and stability,” the President said.
“At the informal 5+UN meeting held in Geneva at the invitation of the UN Secretary-General, I presented our solution proposal to the UN for the first time. This was the beginning of a new era. Instead of responding positively to our proposal for a settlement, the Greek Cypriot Side has been continuing unilateral activities and arming. At this point, our expectation from other countries, especially the UN and EU, is to warn the Greek Cypriot side as a requirement of our acquired equality and force them to accept our sovereign equality and our equal international status.”
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot Side “supports a fair, permanent and sustainable settlement in Cyprus through negotiations. . .” adding that “the sovereign equality of the two existing Sides and their equal international status must be acknowledged”.
"However, the Greek Cypriot Side insists on a solution based on the ‘Republic of Cyprus’, which they have transformed into a Greek Cypriot state, and continues to demand that 'there will be no solution without the abolishment of Türkiye’s guarantee, without the withdrawal of the Turkish army, without the return of Maraş. . .”
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his team for their efforts in putting forward the injustices faced by the Turkish Cypriot People and for explaining to international actors the new policy of the TRNC with regards to the Cyprus issue.
He added: “Previous negotiations have ended in failure due to the hegemonic mentality of the Greek Cypriot Side. And now, the Greek Cypriot Side is in an attempt of creating a perception that the Turkish Cypriot Side is at fault, after they put forward the same old proposals as Confidence Building Measures which were part of the exhausted basis, with the sole objective of perpetuating the current unacceptable status quo whilst trying to extend their authority to the North.”
Expressing that he conveyed “four cooperation proposals” to the UN Secretary-General on July 1, 2022 to be delivered to the Greek Cypriot administration, President Tatar listed the proposals that he presented plus the two additional proposals on July 8:
“The first proposal is an extended cooperation proposal on hydrocarbon resources.
Our second is for the island to be included in the European Union interconnection system by connecting to the Republic of Türkiye.
As the third area of cooperation, I proposed the effective use of solar energy for the transition to green energy, which is the common goal of both sides.
As our fourth cooperation proposal, I also expressed that we are ready to establish a joint committee to be composed of authorised officials from both Sides to cooperate on the rational use and development of freshwater resources on both Sides.
President Tatar stated that in addition to these four important cooperation proposals, they also conveyed two more cooperation proposals on clearing the island from landmines and curtailing irregular migration. “However, the Greek Cypriot Side has not yet responded to our proposals for this cooperation,” he said.
“The TRNC is at least as legitimate as the Greek Cypriot State”
The President concluded his address by underlining the importance of the anniversary as the day peace and freedom came to the island of Cyprus. “The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is at least as sovereign and as legitimate as the Greek Cypriot State,” the President said. “A settlement that is based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two existing Sides will bring cooperation, prosperity and stability to our island and the region.
“As we celebrate our 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day once again, we express our gratitude to the great Turkish nation, of which we are proud and honoured to be an inseparable part, to Motherland Türkiye and our glorious saviour Turkish Armed Forces, who are always with us in joy and in pain, and express our gratitude to our martyrs. May they all rest in eternal peace. We remember them and our veterans with the deepest of respect and gratitude. They are and always will be our heroes. How happy is the one who says I am a Turk."
The President, addressing the ceremony which was also attended by the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Fuat Oktay and other foreign dignitaries, underlined the Turkish Cypriot Side’s forward-looking position on peace and stability in Cyprus and the region.
He added that they are happy and honoured to be realising with great enthusiasm and excitement, the 48th anniversary of the 20 July 1974 Peace Operation, which brought the Turkish Cypriot people “illumination, freedom and independence”.
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot side desires a fair, permanent and sustainable agreement in Cyprus through formal negotiations, adding: “The sovereign equality of the two existing Sides and their equal international status must be acknowledged for this.”
The National Address of President Tatar was also broadcast on BRT State media.
“The settlement proposal in Geneva and the beginning of a new era”
Stating that negotiations for an equality-based settlement had been exhausted due to continuous rejections by the Greek Cypriot Side, the President stated that he received a new mandate from the People. “Accordingly, I put forward new proposals for the basis of a settlement at the 5+UN informal meeting that was held in Geneva in April 2021 upon the invitation of the UN Secretary-General,” the President added. “This has started a new era. At this point, our expectation from other countries and international actors, especially the UN and the EU, is for them to warn the Greek Cypriot Side and to encourage them to accept the sovereign equality and equal international status. This is our inherent right.”
“No one should expect us to blindly trust the current Greek Cypriot heirs, who have been taking action to make Cyprus a Hellenic State and who constantly express this objective”
Pointing out that the 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day is the noblest proof that Turkish Cypriots won the struggle to live in freedom in their own country forever, the President paid tribute to the martyrs and veterans for their sacrifices and expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Türkiye “for standing firmly by the side of the Turkish Cypriot People during the difficult years”.
“On this happy anniversary, I commemorate with respect and gratitude our Leader of the freedom and independence struggle Dr. Fazıl Küçük, our Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş as well as the Turkish Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the time, Bülent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan. May they all rest in eternal peace,” the President said.
President Tatar recalled that the island was temporarily leased in 1878 to Britain, who later unilaterally annexed the island in 1914 when the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo's attempt to make Cyprus a Hellenic Island intensified. “It was then that the resistance and struggle of the Turkish Cypriot People had started,” he said.
The President added: “The goal of the EOKA terrorist organisation, which was put into force in 1955, was to exterminate the Turkish Cypriot People and make Cyprus a Hellenic Island. Our people showed an epic resistance against these futile attempts under the leadership of the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) and succeeded in becoming the equal founding partner of the Republic of Cyprus, which was established in 1960. The contribution of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, Adnan Menderes, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatih Rüştü Zorlu, in the London and Zurich negotiations was very important. I commemorate them with respect. However, the Greek Cypriot leadership, who saw the Republic of Cyprus as a ‘springboard for annexing the island with Greece (ENOSIS)', was also putting into action with its secret organisation and armament activities, the Akritas Plan, which was a plan designed to annihilate the Turkish Cypriot people on the island. Makarios, Yorgacis, Clerides, and Papadopoulos were the ones who prepared and organised the Akritas Plan… Nobody should expect that we can blindly trust this fanaticism and their heirs who have usurped the state in which they live in order to make it a Hellenic State and who have always expressed this with their words and actions.”
Referring to how the Greek Cypriot Side had forcefully expulsed the Turkish Cypriots out of the state apparatus of the partnership state with the use of force of arms as part of efforts to make Cyprus a Greek island, the President said: “As well as trampling over all the rights granted to the Turkish Cypriot people in the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, the vicious Greek Cypriot attacks on the Turkish Cypriots began on December 21, 1963, which is known as Bloody Christmas in our history. Our people were massacred ruthlessly and buried in pits and mass graves, our children brutally murdered in their bathing rooms, more than 25,000 of our people were forced to migrate from 103 Turkish villages across the island of Cyprus, which were subjected to arson attacks and destroyed in order to prevent their return, compelling them to stay in tents and caves. Our mosques and holy places were also destroyed…” The President stated that the international community had at the time witnessed the atrocities committed against Turkish Cypriots between 1963 to 1974, and “how our People were forced to live under siege and imprisoned in ghettos in areas comprising three per cent of the island’s territory”.
“The Turkish Cypriot People lived in refugee tents for 11 years under the most difficult and hardest conditions, were tortured in humiliating barricades, murdered, abducted and pushed into hunger and poverty,” the President said. “Despite all these pains and suffering, our people never gave up hope in the Republic of Türkiye; they carried on resisting with the support of the Motherland Türkiye, did not surrender and did not become prisoners. They did not allow the honour and dignity of being Turkish to be trampled over and held their heads high. At the cost of life and bloodshed, our flags remained hoisted, and the call to prayers never stopped. An epic was written in Cyprus in a way that matches the glorious history of the Turkish nation.”
The President also remined that the “military junta administration in Greece and the EOKA terrorist organisation had declared the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus’ with the fascist coup d’état on July 15, 1974, with the “main goal being to exterminate our people and annex Cyprus to Greece”.
“The freedom sun on the beaches of Girne”
President Tatar explained that “the very existence of Turkish Cypriot people were under threat during the 11 years of attacks, and this had culminated with the declaration of the ‘Hellenic Republic of Cyprus.’
“Against this great danger, Ankara was determined this time. Motherland Türkiye, exercising her obligation as a Guarantor stemming from international agreements, launched the Cyprus Peace Operation on the morning of July 20, 1974. On the morning of July 20, as the sun of freedom was rising on the shores of Girne, Turkish soldiers were landing in Cyprus and embracing the mujahideen [Turkish Cypriot freedom fighters]. The Turkish Cypriot people, who had never taken their eyes off the Taurus Mountains for many years could not hold back the tears of joy when they saw the Mehmetcik (Turkish soldiers) descending with parachutes on the Beşparmak skies that Saturday morning. Ninety-six years of longing had at last come to an end. Just as in the Erenköy epic, the people embraced each other with jubilation, saying 'they [Turkish army] have finally come, they are here, we are safe'. Meanwhile, our people were being massacred by Greek Cypriot soldiers and EOKA members in areas that Turkish soldiers could not reach. The massacres in Taşkent, Atlılar, Muratağa and Sandallar and what happened in Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca and other regions are the biggest proof of Greek Cypriot barbarism and savagery.
Today, if we live in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as sovereign people in freedom and without any fear, we owe this to the great sacrifice and resistance of our people, to our martyrs, to our heroic mujahideen and Mehmetçik (Turkish soldiers) and Motherland Türkiye.”
Referring to the “sacred struggle” put forward by the Turkish Cypriot People in “defending our existence and every inch of our country’s lands,” the President referenced the verse of the Turkish National Anthem, which was written by the great poet of Turkish literature, Mehmet Akif Ersoy:
“Who would not sacrifice their life for this paradise of a country?
Martyrs would burst forth should one simply squeeze the soil! Martyrs!
May God take my life, my loved ones, and all possessions from me if He wills,
But let Him not deprive me of my one true homeland in the world.
I commemorate our martyrs with gratitude once again, may they rest in eternal peace and I salute our veterans with respect and appreciation."
President Tatar recounted that since the period he served as Prime Minister, he has been following the Covid-19 pandemic closely and has led the country in taking effective measures by strengthening the infrastructure of the health service and opening the Emergency Hospital in Lefkoşa with the help of Motherland Türkiye.
Emphasising that he has also been continuing to follow the pandemic process after he was elected as President, President Tatar said that as a result of the initiatives, a total of 720,320 doses of vaccinations from Motherland Türkiye and a total of 257,928 doses from the EU have been delivered to the country so far.
“I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of myself and on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot People to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has not spared his support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus under all circumstances and who stands by the Turkish Cypriots in every field,” the President said.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Fuat Oktay, who, as always, contributed greatly to the implementation of the 2022 Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocol. The TRNC has very suitable conditions to advance in tourism, higher education sector, informatics, light industry, construction and real estate sector and agriculture and animal husbandry. We thank Türkiye for the annual 75 million m3 of water that is transported via undersea pipelines to our drought hit country. I would also like to express my belief that we can and will achieve success in all sectors in order to revive and strengthen the economy,” the President added.
“Turkey's guarantee and the presence of the Turkish security forces are important”
President Tatar also made reference to international developments and how this has justified the political position taken by the Turkish Cypriot Side. “When we observe the developments that continues in Ukraine today, we see once again how important it is for us to have the guarantee of Motherland Türkiye and the presence of the Turkish security forces in Cyprus,” the President said. “On the other hand, it is useful to draw attention to the dangers and risks regarding the security of the country and the region arising from the relations of the Greek Cypriot administration with the PKK terrorist group, which came to the agenda again after the Greek Cypriot Side granted permission to the PYD, the political arm of PKK, to open a representative office in South Cyprus last January.
“I underline that there is no difference between the PKK and PYD/YPG, which the TRNC Council of Ministers have enlisted as being terrorist organisations . . .the endeavours of some to make distinctions between the organisations in question have no meaning for the TRNC State. I invite the Greek Cypriot administration to reconsider its relations with terrorism and terrorist organisations and to stop collaborating with them, because they are a threat to the humanity of the world and have political motives.”
The President stated that the “most recent example of the damage that terrorism has inflicted on humanity and democracy is the coup attempt carried out by the FETO terrorist organisation, which is insidious and supported by foreign powers, on July 15, 2016, with the aim of disrupting the Republic of Türkiye and destroying the national will. With this treacherous attempt, a dangerous process has come to pass that would have affected the security not only of Motherland Türkiye, but also of the Turkish Cypriot people. Fortunately, while this coup attempt against the unity, independence and democracy of Motherland Türkiye was suppressed by the Turkish people and the security forces affiliated with the State and the Turkish Cypriot people opposed this coup from the very first moment and stood by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government,” he said.
“One of the main reasons for the continuation of the Cyprus problem is Resolution 186”
President Tatar stated that one of the main reasons why the Cyprus problem still continues is due to the “unlawful Resolution 186” that was adopted by the UN Security Council on March 4, 1964. He said this Resolution had treated the Greek Cypriot Side as being the sole authority and ‘Republic of Cyprus’. “However, the Turkish Cypriot co-partners were forced out of the state apparatus which has since been turned into a Greek state. While the Greek Cypriot side gains strength from this unfair and political decision, it continues its intransigence and is playing for time. This decision constitutes the biggest obstacle to a settlement and unless the imbalance created by this decision between the two sides is eliminated, the Greek Cypriot side will not accept any solution,” the President stated.
President Tatar added: “Another obstacle in front of a solution is the unilateral and biased attitude and stance of the European Union. The Greek Cypriot side continues to maintain its uncompromising stance by gaining strength and courage from this. What happened during the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan referenda process in 2004? Many EU Member States, including the EU, have not kept promises they made to the Turkish Cypriot people. The Greek Cypriot side, who voted against the settlement plan itself, has been unfairly made a member of the EU. The Greek Cypriot side thinks that it can impose any form of solution it wishes by using EU membership as a threat and blackmail. Meanwhile, despite the promises made by the EU, the inhumane isolation against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and our people still continues. All these are reasons to question the EU principles, values and justice.
“The time has come for the Turkic world to take steps towards cooperation with the TRNC”
“I would like to make a call to the Turkic world from here… At this point in time, the time has come for steps to be taken to co-operate in every field with the TRNC who is the representative of the Turkish world in the eastern Mediterranean,” the President said. “Another objective of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo and certain circles is to break our ties with Motherland Türkiye, to isolate our people and to force us to accept an imposed solution. While various provocations and operations are being carried out that is aimed at creating an impression for this objective, it is not possible for them to be successful. The Turkish Cypriot people are deeply attached and inseparable from Motherland Türkiye. We should not forget that the Turkish Cypriots cannot exist without the support of the Republic of Türkiye.”
President Tatar also recalled that during his Prime Ministry period, a major initiative was commenced regarding the fenced part of Maraş [Varosha] in 2020, and underlined that some public areas and the sea coast were opened for the use of the public in accordance with international law and human rights. “In this context, an area making up 3.5 per cent of the fenced part of Maraş was removed from being categorised as a military area, and put under civil control,” the President said. “Former inhabitants can now seek an effective domestic legal remedy by applying to the European Court of Human Rights sanctioned Immovable Property Commission.”
President Tatar added that “the eastern Mediterranean is not the property of the Greek Cypriot side, which transformed the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ into a Greek state by force of arms”, adding: “Whilst the Greek Cypriot side continues its natural gas exploration and drilling activities with some countries who do not even have a coast in the eastern Mediterranean, they are trying to exclude TRNC and Türkiye -- which has the longest coastline in the eastern Mediterranean, to push us out of the equation and to claim natural resources for themselves.”
He said the Greek Cypriot side did not even respond to the proposals for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon resources in the seas surrounding the island, through a committee to be formed with the participation of the two Sides as equals. “We will not stand by as a spectator against the 'dominant' mentality of the Greek Cypriot side,” the President said. “We are determined to protect our rights and interests over the natural resources on which we have equal rights, together with Motherland Türkiye.”
“A new era has started with regards to the Cyprus issue”
President Tatar said: “A new era has been started in the Cyprus issue because negotiation processes which started decades ago and continued for many years have ended in failure due to the negative and uncompromising attitude of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo. In particular, the UN Comprehensive Settlement [Annan] Plan referenda period of 2004 and the events in Crans Montana in 2017 have once again revealed that a federal-based solution is not possible. While the Greek Cypriot side rejected our inherent equality and sovereignty rights in the meeting in Crans Montana, they continued to insist on a solution that would evolve the usurped state in the South into a unitary state, under the umbrella of the Greek Cypriot dominated so-called 'Republic of Cyprus' -- with 'zero troops, zero guarantees'. . We could never accept this imposition.”
“Prior to the 2020 Presidential election, I shared the new vision with my people by bringing up the existence of two separate sovereign States and a settlement that is based on the equal footing and cooperation across different fields between the two Sides. With my election as the President, our people showed great support to this new vision. Our new policy, which is also fully supported by Motherland Türkiye, the largest and most powerful country in the region, is the only solution for the benefit of Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean. This is indeed how, based on the lessons of the past, we can build sustainable peace and stability,” the President said.
“At the informal 5+UN meeting held in Geneva at the invitation of the UN Secretary-General, I presented our solution proposal to the UN for the first time. This was the beginning of a new era. Instead of responding positively to our proposal for a settlement, the Greek Cypriot Side has been continuing unilateral activities and arming. At this point, our expectation from other countries, especially the UN and EU, is to warn the Greek Cypriot side as a requirement of our acquired equality and force them to accept our sovereign equality and our equal international status.”
President Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriot Side “supports a fair, permanent and sustainable settlement in Cyprus through negotiations. . .” adding that “the sovereign equality of the two existing Sides and their equal international status must be acknowledged”.
"However, the Greek Cypriot Side insists on a solution based on the ‘Republic of Cyprus’, which they have transformed into a Greek Cypriot state, and continues to demand that 'there will be no solution without the abolishment of Türkiye’s guarantee, without the withdrawal of the Turkish army, without the return of Maraş. . .”
President Tatar expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his team for their efforts in putting forward the injustices faced by the Turkish Cypriot People and for explaining to international actors the new policy of the TRNC with regards to the Cyprus issue.
He added: “Previous negotiations have ended in failure due to the hegemonic mentality of the Greek Cypriot Side. And now, the Greek Cypriot Side is in an attempt of creating a perception that the Turkish Cypriot Side is at fault, after they put forward the same old proposals as Confidence Building Measures which were part of the exhausted basis, with the sole objective of perpetuating the current unacceptable status quo whilst trying to extend their authority to the North.”
Expressing that he conveyed “four cooperation proposals” to the UN Secretary-General on July 1, 2022 to be delivered to the Greek Cypriot administration, President Tatar listed the proposals that he presented plus the two additional proposals on July 8:
“The first proposal is an extended cooperation proposal on hydrocarbon resources.
Our second is for the island to be included in the European Union interconnection system by connecting to the Republic of Türkiye.
As the third area of cooperation, I proposed the effective use of solar energy for the transition to green energy, which is the common goal of both sides.
As our fourth cooperation proposal, I also expressed that we are ready to establish a joint committee to be composed of authorised officials from both Sides to cooperate on the rational use and development of freshwater resources on both Sides.
President Tatar stated that in addition to these four important cooperation proposals, they also conveyed two more cooperation proposals on clearing the island from landmines and curtailing irregular migration. “However, the Greek Cypriot Side has not yet responded to our proposals for this cooperation,” he said.
“The TRNC is at least as legitimate as the Greek Cypriot State”
The President concluded his address by underlining the importance of the anniversary as the day peace and freedom came to the island of Cyprus. “The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is at least as sovereign and as legitimate as the Greek Cypriot State,” the President said. “A settlement that is based on the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two existing Sides will bring cooperation, prosperity and stability to our island and the region.
“As we celebrate our 20th of July Peace and Freedom Day once again, we express our gratitude to the great Turkish nation, of which we are proud and honoured to be an inseparable part, to Motherland Türkiye and our glorious saviour Turkish Armed Forces, who are always with us in joy and in pain, and express our gratitude to our martyrs. May they all rest in eternal peace. We remember them and our veterans with the deepest of respect and gratitude. They are and always will be our heroes. How happy is the one who says I am a Turk."