President Ersin Tatar attends the ceremony at the Cyprus Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) Mujahideen Association on the occasion of 1 August Communal Resistance Day
"If we are to build a more prosperous future for both peoples, wisdom and reason must prevail.”
President Ersin Tatar attended a solemn ceremony held at the Cyprus TMT Mujahideen Association in commemoration of 1 August Communal Resistance Day.
In his address, President Tatar emphasised the historical importance of this day, noting that on August 1, 1571, Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, entering over three centuries of Ottoman rule. He stated that this island -- which has significant geostrategic importance, after centuries of coexistence, became the target of demographic manipulation by the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo that aspired to unite Cyprus with Greece.
He recalled that on August 1, 1958, the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) was founded in response to these existential threats -- marking the beginning of an organised, determined resistance by the Turkish Cypriot people.
President Tatar strongly condemned recent comparisons made by an official between EOKA and TMT, stating: “EOKA was a terrorist organisation that brutally targeted innocent Turkish Cypriots -- forcing our people from their homes and executing them in mass graves. To liken EOKA to TMT is a grave injustice. TMT was established under the Turkish Special Warfare Department and the Turkish Armed Forces, with the sole purpose of protecting civilians and enabling our people to resist annihilation. Such comparisons are not only false -- they are deeply offensive.”
The President emphasised TMT’s pivotal role in paving the way toward the establishment of the partnership Republic of Cyprus in 1960, and its contributions both militarily and institutionally to the Turkish Cypriot cause. President Tatar paid tribute to key figures in the island’s modern history, including Adnan Menderes, Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, Dr. Fazıl Küçük, and Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, noting that the role of Türkiye as a guarantor state, enshrined in the 1960 treaties, remains fundamental to the island’s stability.
“When Türkiye exercised her unilateral right of intervention as one of the guarantors on July 20, 1974 following the coup d'etat carried out by the Greek Junta and the declaration of the 'Hellenic Republic of Cyprus' five days earlier, it was not only lawful -- it stopped the attrocities committed against Turkish Cypriots,” President Tatar said.
“Together with the Mujahideen, we wrote the epic of 1974. After the Peace Operation, on August 1, 1976, the TMT fulfilled its mission and formally transferred its duties to the Security Forces Command (GKK)," the President said.
In reference to a recent article about Northern Cyprus by an Israeli publication, President Tatar said: “For 51 years, this island has known peace, security, and stability. No one has the right to undermine that. Disrupting this balance would benefit no one -- not even the Greek Cypriots.”
He called for wisdom and responsibility from all stakeholders, emphasising that a just and prosperous future depends on mutual understanding -- not provocation.
Responding to claims that his two State settlement vision "lacked substance", President Tatar asserted: “Those who dismiss this position fail to understand the suffering our people have endured and the legal basis of our sovereign rights. Turkish Cypriot People have equal inherent rights, namely sovereign equality and equal international status. This is not an empty slogan -- it is a position grounded in historical legitimacy and supported by international agreements.”
He expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support of the Republic of Türkiye, adding: “We are proud to present our just cause to the world, fully supported by our Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye. Over the past five years, the name of the TRNC has resonated across international platforms.”
President Tatar stressed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly declared -- at the United Nations, the Organisation of Turkic States, the Economic Cooperation Organisation, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation -- that any future settlement in Cyprus must include the State of the Turkish Cypriot People, which would be a party to the agreement. “This policy has steadily gained ground over the past five years,” President Tatar said, adding: “Any return to federal based negotiations, which have been tried, failed and exhausted for more than 60 years, would be a step backward and a direct blow to our claims of sovereignty.”
He also criticised a controversial statement by former President Mustafa Akıncı, who once claimed that “guarantees are not a taboo”, stating: "Such remarks, made without the will or consent of the Turkish Cypriot people, represent a dangerous weakness. They open the door to concessions we cannot afford to make.”
“We must never give concessions from the guarantee of Motherland Türkiye. . . the guarantee of our security, peace, and dignity lies in Türkiye's guarantee and effective presence," President Tatar said. "That is our red line -- and it will not be crossed.”
He described a recent controversial publication about Founding President Denktaş as a “book of shame”, and reminded the participants of Denktaş’s enduring message: "Protect your State and your sovereignty until the end.”
President Tatar affirmed that the government fully supports the political path he represents and expressed confidence that this vision, strengthened by Türkiye's backing, "will be validated at the ballot box".
He warned against federation models promoted under the EU umbrella, which would require Türkiye to withdraw and cede its guarantor role to EU oversight.
“To trust such a proposal after decades of pain, sacrifice, and martyrdom is an insult to the Turkish Cypriot people," President Tatar said. "We will never be party to such a deception.”
Concluding his speech, President Tatar emphasised that political stability, along with the Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocols signed with Türkiye, continue to yield vital investment projects for the future of the TRNC, adding: “It is our great fortune to live with heads held high beneath our flags—an inseparable and unbreakable part of a great nation. In this strategic and often volatile region of the eastern Mediterranean, we stand proud.
Our path is the path of the Mujahideen, the path of TMT, the path of a united and honourable struggle.”
In his address, President Tatar emphasised the historical importance of this day, noting that on August 1, 1571, Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, entering over three centuries of Ottoman rule. He stated that this island -- which has significant geostrategic importance, after centuries of coexistence, became the target of demographic manipulation by the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo that aspired to unite Cyprus with Greece.
He recalled that on August 1, 1958, the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) was founded in response to these existential threats -- marking the beginning of an organised, determined resistance by the Turkish Cypriot people.
President Tatar strongly condemned recent comparisons made by an official between EOKA and TMT, stating: “EOKA was a terrorist organisation that brutally targeted innocent Turkish Cypriots -- forcing our people from their homes and executing them in mass graves. To liken EOKA to TMT is a grave injustice. TMT was established under the Turkish Special Warfare Department and the Turkish Armed Forces, with the sole purpose of protecting civilians and enabling our people to resist annihilation. Such comparisons are not only false -- they are deeply offensive.”
The President emphasised TMT’s pivotal role in paving the way toward the establishment of the partnership Republic of Cyprus in 1960, and its contributions both militarily and institutionally to the Turkish Cypriot cause. President Tatar paid tribute to key figures in the island’s modern history, including Adnan Menderes, Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, Dr. Fazıl Küçük, and Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş, noting that the role of Türkiye as a guarantor state, enshrined in the 1960 treaties, remains fundamental to the island’s stability.
“When Türkiye exercised her unilateral right of intervention as one of the guarantors on July 20, 1974 following the coup d'etat carried out by the Greek Junta and the declaration of the 'Hellenic Republic of Cyprus' five days earlier, it was not only lawful -- it stopped the attrocities committed against Turkish Cypriots,” President Tatar said.
“Together with the Mujahideen, we wrote the epic of 1974. After the Peace Operation, on August 1, 1976, the TMT fulfilled its mission and formally transferred its duties to the Security Forces Command (GKK)," the President said.
In reference to a recent article about Northern Cyprus by an Israeli publication, President Tatar said: “For 51 years, this island has known peace, security, and stability. No one has the right to undermine that. Disrupting this balance would benefit no one -- not even the Greek Cypriots.”
He called for wisdom and responsibility from all stakeholders, emphasising that a just and prosperous future depends on mutual understanding -- not provocation.
Responding to claims that his two State settlement vision "lacked substance", President Tatar asserted: “Those who dismiss this position fail to understand the suffering our people have endured and the legal basis of our sovereign rights. Turkish Cypriot People have equal inherent rights, namely sovereign equality and equal international status. This is not an empty slogan -- it is a position grounded in historical legitimacy and supported by international agreements.”
He expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support of the Republic of Türkiye, adding: “We are proud to present our just cause to the world, fully supported by our Motherland and Guarantor Türkiye. Over the past five years, the name of the TRNC has resonated across international platforms.”
President Tatar stressed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly declared -- at the United Nations, the Organisation of Turkic States, the Economic Cooperation Organisation, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation -- that any future settlement in Cyprus must include the State of the Turkish Cypriot People, which would be a party to the agreement. “This policy has steadily gained ground over the past five years,” President Tatar said, adding: “Any return to federal based negotiations, which have been tried, failed and exhausted for more than 60 years, would be a step backward and a direct blow to our claims of sovereignty.”
He also criticised a controversial statement by former President Mustafa Akıncı, who once claimed that “guarantees are not a taboo”, stating: "Such remarks, made without the will or consent of the Turkish Cypriot people, represent a dangerous weakness. They open the door to concessions we cannot afford to make.”
“We must never give concessions from the guarantee of Motherland Türkiye. . . the guarantee of our security, peace, and dignity lies in Türkiye's guarantee and effective presence," President Tatar said. "That is our red line -- and it will not be crossed.”
He described a recent controversial publication about Founding President Denktaş as a “book of shame”, and reminded the participants of Denktaş’s enduring message: "Protect your State and your sovereignty until the end.”
President Tatar affirmed that the government fully supports the political path he represents and expressed confidence that this vision, strengthened by Türkiye's backing, "will be validated at the ballot box".
He warned against federation models promoted under the EU umbrella, which would require Türkiye to withdraw and cede its guarantor role to EU oversight.
“To trust such a proposal after decades of pain, sacrifice, and martyrdom is an insult to the Turkish Cypriot people," President Tatar said. "We will never be party to such a deception.”
Concluding his speech, President Tatar emphasised that political stability, along with the Economic and Financial Cooperation Protocols signed with Türkiye, continue to yield vital investment projects for the future of the TRNC, adding: “It is our great fortune to live with heads held high beneath our flags—an inseparable and unbreakable part of a great nation. In this strategic and often volatile region of the eastern Mediterranean, we stand proud.
Our path is the path of the Mujahideen, the path of TMT, the path of a united and honourable struggle.”